A new challenge to iTunes' dominance has been revealed as the online music service gBox announced a deal with Google.The search engine provider will direct its users to gBox when they search for specific terms such as an artist's name, the Associated Press (AP) reports.
Under the deal, Google will receive standard advertising fees as opposed to a cut of the sales.
Google reportedly described the new arrangement as one strictly based on advertising and added that it has no plans to create a music store of its own.
Tammy Artim, chief executive of gBox, commented to the AP: "Instead of doing marketing and [advertising on] billboards on Highway 101 to go to gBox, we want to take advantage of the viral element that has been so successful for companies in the past."
The online music service is already working with Microsoft's Internet Explorer and is also set to be supported by Firefox by the time it officially launches.
It is also in the process of developing a 'wish list' feature which users will be able to post on sites, such as MySpace and Facebook, and which will allow friends visiting their profiles to buy a song for them through gBox.
This reliance on referrals through Google and social networking sites is different from most retailers, according to AP, who generally attempt to drive customers to their homepages in order to make purchases.
The company is set to launch later this month.
