Microsoft Launches Ad-Free Pandora Radio for Windows Phone 8

By Tim Beyers – Mar 21, 2013 at 1:53PM

NYSE: P

Pandora Media, Inc.

Backs off earlier promises of a year of free access.

Free access to ad-free Pandora with no monthly streaming limit has arrived for Windows Phone 8.

According to information posted this week at Microsoft's (MSFT -1.84%) Windows Phone app store, purchasers of its newest handsets may access ad-free radio through Pandora (P) for the remainder of 2013. The company announced in October that Pandora would be coming to Windows Phone in early 2013 with one year of ad-free music. So the latest announcement offers the free option for less time than announced in October.

Android and iOS users typically pay $3.99 per month, or $36 per year, for Pandora One, the company's ad-free premium subscription service. Privately held Spotify charges a minimum of $4.99 per month for similar access.

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