Only a few years ago, any discussion on cloud computing typically centered on its potential use and implementation as it pertained to corporate IT departments. For the general public, however, the concept of storing data in a cloud was as ethereal a concept as any.

With just a short fast-forward, we are seeing the ubiquity of this mode of data storage in a whole host of consumer cloud services. Anyone who has purchased an Amazon Kindle e-reader is presented with the option to store their books, music and apps directly on their device or to free up storage on the device by storing their purchases in the Amazon Cloud. This storage is afforded, free of charge, to Kindle owners.

Taking the above model one step further, Microsoft’s Xbox utilizes a subscriber model with their Xbox LIVE, allowing a customer to save an in-progress game to the cloud. Once saved, the game can be accessed via any other console at any other time, allowing the game to be picked up right at the point it was saved to the cloud.

And then in October of last year, in an attempt to compete head-to-head with outfits like Spotify, Microsoft launched Xbox Music. Initially, the online music service was only accessible via Windows 8 and Windows 8 enabled smartphones as well as the Xbox 360. Microsoft, as reported by Chloe Albanesius of PCMag, today announced the next advancement in their music delivery platform, allowing for direct access to the service through the web.

Microsoft explained their motivations in a promotional video touting their music service. In it, they stated “managing music has become hard” due to online music experiences having become “fragmented.” They claim Xbox Music is now a functional model intended to meet their users’ music needs across the tablet, phone, TV and console.

According to Albanesius, Xbox Music, in its newest iteration, is leveraging the consumer cloud to integrate the music experience across all devices. Excepting the low market share enjoyed by Microsoft with their Windows 8 OS and devices, the subscription model seems to be the way forward for future consumer cloud service offerings.