Coffee shop chain Starbucks plans to use its wireless internet connections to help launch a download music service to rival Apple's iTunes. 

Starbucks hopes to market the service to the 40 million people it serves every day by expanding its hotspots to more coffee shops.

According to rumours, the firm is currently testing different options and could choose a service using Microsoft's Windows Media Player. 

Starbucks already has three Hear Music stores currently on trial, offering one million songs and 10,000 music CDs for sale.

Customers can play a selection of songs and then buy a copy of any they like and have them burned to CD.

Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz plans to open 1,800 more cafes in the coming year and is thinking of introducing the Hear Music service in the UK.

Plans for a Starbucks music download service were first rumoured in December 2005.