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Microsoft mulls phone-style contracts for Xbox
Subsidised console coming?
Microsoft has plans for a subscription package that'll offer customers an Xbox 360 console and Kinect add-on, as well as access to the Xbox Live Gold service and media content, for a monthly fee.
The two-year Xbox subscription could be launched in the US as early as next week, the Verge reports.
Microsoft will punt a 4GB Xbox 360 console and Kinect sensor for $99 (£61) as long as customers agree to sign up to the $15 (£9) per month package, which will come with Gold membership, a bunch of additional streaming services and a two-year warranty, it's claimed.
With the Redmond firm set to launch its own Spotify service at E3 2012, and new streamed content hitting the Xbox 360 platform on a regular basis, a subscription to get the lot seems a shrewd move by Microsoft.
Who can offer the best all-encompassing home entertainment setup? The battle continues... ®