Not content to just follow Apple into the portable music market with the Zune, Microsoft appears poised to follow Apple into the DRM-free music market.

Music label has already agreed to sell unencrypted high quality digital audio files through Apple's iTunes Music Store. Zune marketing director Jason Reindorp told CNet that Microsoft plans to follow suit, offering DRM-free versions of EMI music.

There's no word on when the unencrypted tracks might hit Zune Marketplace, or how much they'll cost. Apple is charging a little more for unencrypted tracks, at $1.29 per track, compared with $.99 for AAC files with DRM.