New York - SpiralFrog, an ad-supported free music download service, has quietly launched an invite-only beta test of its service, CNET News.com reported.

SpiralFrog had initially planned to launch the service in December, but missed that target and shortly thereafter saw the majority of its management team -- including CEO Robin Kent -- depart the company.

The beta version offers a catalog of 700,000 songs, licensed from major label Universal Music and others; the company hopes to launch a full version before the end of the year.

Songs downloaded from the service are only compatible with portable devices that support Microsoft's Windows Media format, meaning they won't work with the iPod.

"Our competition is piracy," SpiralFrog founder Joe Mohen told News.com. "This is going to be a new stream of revenue for record companies and artists and a legal alternative to LimeWire and other illegitimate sites."

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/2cocyj (CNET)

http://www.spiralfrog.com