MUMBAI: Microsoft has decided to change its earlier decision announcing the plan to discontinue authorization for music downloaded through its old MSN Music service. The company has announced to extend its service for music downloads, or authorizing new computers and devices for playing that music, for over three more years till 2011 than the earlier decided date of 31 August.

According to a report on BetaNews.com, Microsoft had, on 22 April this year, notified its users by e-mail, telling them that by 31 August they would be changing the level of support for music purchased from MSN Music, and while the users existing purchased music would continue to play, they would no longer be able to authorize new PCs and devices to play that music. That's because Microsoft then planned to turn off the authorization servers on August 31 for MSN Music, a service essentially replaced by Zune Marketplace in 2006.

But a number of users signified their displeasure after receiving or hearing about Microsoft's letter in April. One of them offered an online definition of Janus -- previously the codename for the "Plays for Sure" DRM technology behind MSN Music -- as a Roman god "with two faces on opposite sides of his head."

In a second letter, issued this week, Microsoft told MSN users that, after "careful consideration," the company has revised its plans. It has decided to continue to support the authorization of new computers and devices and delivery of new license keys for MSN Music customers through at least the end of 2011. Users will now be able to continue listening to their purchased music and transfer music to their new PCs and other devices beyond previously announced date of 31 August, the report says.