Virgin has today launched a music download service that will go head to head with established players including iTunes and Napster.

The US-based Virgin Digital service, part of the Virgin group controlled by tycoon Sir Richard Branson, is available as a free download, and enables users to download individual music tracks for 99 cents.

Users signing up for the $7.99 per month subscription service are promised access to more than 100,000 albums of on-demand music, radio streaming, portable device management tools and searching facilities.

Customers can also browse more than one million listed tracks and download and burn them to CDs, or store them on a compatible portable device.

Virgin said the service builds upon the music licences and content distribution platform provided by MusicNet, adding that it is compatible with any portable music device running Microsoft's 'Plays for Sure' software.

"This is the most entertaining, powerful, and intuitive way for dedicated music fans to find, listen to and manage their music collections," said Zack Zalon, president of Virgin Digital, in a statement.

The company added that it plans to extend the reach of the service beyond the US - but would not provide further details.

Virgin Radio today also became the first British radio station to sign up to Nokia's interactive Visual Radio. The service, due to launch next month, allows listeners to buy tracks and interact with stations from a range of Nokia handsets.