Spotify today announced the introduction of new free listening tiers for its mobile customers, with separate options available for both tablets and smartphones. Previously, Spotify limited its free listening to desktop users, requiring a $9.99 monthly subscription for music access on mobile devices beyond Spotify's free radio streaming.
On the iPad, the Spotify app will function similarly to the current free desktop version of the app, permitting users to search for specific tracks, build playlists, and listen to content for free.
On the iPhone, Spotify's service is built around shuffling, much like similar services from Pandora and iTunes Radio. Customers can search for a specific artist or song, but will be required to shuffle through an artist's catalog to access the music. Pre-compiled playlists can also be accessed, but unlimited search and listen access is not available.
- Your music: Listen to all the playlists you’ve created and playlists from the people you follow. Spotify lets you discover new music, save, shuffle and share.
- Your favourite artists: Want to listen to a certain artist? Just hit shuffle play, sit back and listen to their entire catalogue. Don’t settle for something similar. Don’t settle for just one track from the artist you want to hear every 20 minutes.
- Discover great new playlists: Going for a jog or to the gym? We’ve got the playlist to help you go the extra mile. We know you just want the perfect music for a specific moment in time – and we’ve got you covered. There’s something for every mood, genre or moment.
The difference between the iPhone app and the iPad app comes from Spotify's decision to treat the iPad as a PC. Subscribers who pay Spotify's $9.99 per month fee will have exclusive access to offline playlists along with the ability to select specific songs for playback.
Along with new free listening options on mobile devices, Spotify today also announced that it has added the full catalog of Led Zeppelin albums and expanded to 20 new markets around the world.
Spotify's free services will be available beginning today. The Spotify app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Top Rated Comments
Not sure why they didn't make the smartphone and tablet experience the same. That would've made a lot more sense to the end-user.
probably those greedy labels to be blamed
I re-downloaded the Spotify app to my iPhone today when I heard they were launching the mobile service free wth ads today. When I realized that on the iPhone, at least, it's just like iTunes Radio and Pandora, I immediately deleted the Spotify app. No need to have a third app that does the same thing as the other two.
This is fantastic on the iPad, superb from the Spotify guys.
I couldn't agree more, now one of the best apps on my iPad.