Streaming music service Spotify has launched on the iPhone and Android devices for its premium subscribers only. You can download it from Apple’s App Store here and the Android Market. Though plans to launch there are in play, the service is not yet live in the US, and it has already taken several European markets by storm. This iPhone app is basically identical to the leaked beta we reviewed in detail.
The mobile apps will allow you to play the entire Spotify catalogue and the ‘offline mode’ caches playlists so they can be played… when you are offline, like on a plane. Spotify has set up a special mobile section with more details.
The launch of this mobile version now fires the starting gun on their US launch plans. A large number of record labels have actually invested in the Swedish-born, London-based startup, which is now valued at €170 million, or about $242 million, with a post money valuation of around €200 million.
This is the first time Spotify has gone mobile with its service and it’s sure to cause a lot of interest. Spotify really is unlike pretty much any streaming service you’ve tried before, mainly because tracks start to play almost instantly due to the P2P technology employed. On a mobile the effect is impressive. See the video below.
Though on the face of it Spotify appears to compete with iTunes,in reality, as we predicted, Apple appears to be relaxed about the service, presumably so long as the mobile app remains tied to premium subscribers. Oh, and Mark Zuckerburg loves it.
Of course, no love for the US!
Patience, patience.
They’re still waiting for Hulu. We can’t have everything in the US.
I’d rather have Hulu
On the face, Spotify appears to compete with iTunes really. But Apple appears to be relaxed about the whole thing.
Think of how many services like this launch with US exclusivity, and how everyone bitches about that. Now we know how the rest of the world feels. It sucks but life goes on and we’ll eventually get it I’m sure.
Indeed, we’ll give you a swap. Give us Hulu and you’ll get Spotify. Only fair!
Took this Spotify app long enough to be approved. Much have been 3 weeks. Apple sure did some um-ing and ar-ing over this one.
You guys got Hulu and Pandora. Let us enjoy our Spotify
Only available to Premium users :/
Big deal not in US. What about Canada? We don’t have neither hulu nor spotify.
you get pandora though, no?
Nope, it’s US only :O(
Been waiting for this. It’s a shame that it’s premium only however it might be good for the occasional day pass. Otherwise my mp3/podcast collection will likely do the trick on the go.
Can’t even log in to the app without premium…
Now, they will turn to the Blackberry and I am happy.
Just been trying it out for the last hour, and it’s fantastic.
The only downside is that the iPhone’s inability to run more than 1 app at a time becomes very apparent when using Spotify mobile.
so the real question here is, how can a US itunes account get this on his or her non jailbroken iPhone?
getting a spotify account is fairly easy through proxy, and once you’re paying for it, they don’t seem to care what country you’re “traveling in”
Oh yes they care. I moved from France to Sweden for studies and after two weeks or so some tracks disappeared from my playlists :s (they are just hidden so I can listen to them when I come back to France). That kind of stuff makes me hate those stupids majors even more (I didn’t think it was possible).
Just create a new account. I have both a US and Norwegian account.
come on pre version.
When it hits I wont wait till the u.s launch ill jut buy the euro premium (a little bit more) I have been enjoying spotify for the last 8 months.
Love it cant live without. I dont need to download anything that is awesome.
This on the pre with its multi tasking bad self will be awesome.
can’t wait to get it in the states
Why TC turned off the comments for this post?
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/09/03/why-techcrunch-is-not-coming-to-brazil-after-all/
who cares; streaming music/videos is old hat. i don’t get the bs, just pr ‘tards.
Far away from me
That’s great of iphone.
China unicom have to sell 2600,000 iphone in China each year.do you kown? That is a great cooperate and also a difficult assignment
So if you’re a premium Spotify user in the U.S. how the do you get this on your iPhone?
If you find out, let mr know.
You need to have a premium account to use Spotify Mobile. The app would be better if it provided the ability to register and also upgrade to a premium account!
This looks awesome! You can also view the We Are Hunted chart (http://spotify.wearehunted.com) directly from the interface, and keep it synced which is pretty awesome.
<3 mashups.
Its not available to Premium users in Ireland which is a load of crap.
Ooohw yeah, the app is already in the worstones bin. Check here!
Iphoneapps.com/worstones/2009
******* spammer, get lost!
Looking good! But they really have a lack of a decent communication department.
When they started with their service they also offered their service in The Netherlands, somehow without a decent explanation they pulled it back.
By contacting the Dutch music rights organisations they also didn’t know, and they explained it was not their decision. Until today Spotify just don’t respond on this matter.
It’s a shame, Spotify’s business is music, but they communicate with silence.
But it doesn’t run in the background, that’s the biggest issue.
The Spotify App is just AWESOME!
It is absolutely rediculous that you can’t at least try it before you subscribe.
I have it on my phone, sign in and it lets me know that I can’t use it!
Thanks!
– Why would I subscribe to something if I haven’t tried it out? £120 a year is not worth it just for the ad’s on the desktop client…
To spotify staff reading this:
Free trial please
Microsoft is rumored to launch a similar procust this fall codenamed “Omni” based on the SeeqPod engine and silverlight.
http://www.mobiletechworld.com/2009/08/04/microsoft-project-omni-multiplatform-music-streaming-rumor/
First look at Spotify on S60: http://www.spotify.com/blog/archives/2009/09/07/first-look-at-spotify-on-s60/
Spotify seems to gradually be available on different platforms, but I have not seen any plugin for media center softwares. Anyone knows if there is already a plugin for media center softwares available? Http://mymediaexperience.com
Spotify can be accessed by you only if following three pre-conditions are satisfied:
(1) You should be using iPhone or Android mobiles.
(2) Spotify should be available in your country.
(3) You’ll have to subscribe to the Premium Subscription service and free service is not available for mobiles.
err sorry but the point of Spotify over and above Itunes, the Radio, Deezer and other streaming music sources is what? The ability to store a playlist? Are you kidding me? and this firm got $21m for that proposition? Geejus wtf is wrong with some people. Nothing here to see folks, move along. Sorry but I just absolutely do not get this at all, how is this significantly better than the current set up and applications available?
I think the point is that few of those previous companies had a) record labels as full, on-board investors b) such an emphasis on the mobile side of things. My 2 cents.
Spotify will almost be as good as the Zune Pass.
When iTunes launches subscription-based media downloads (for not only music, but TV and movies) you’ll tweet about it every day and return your DVR’s to your cable companies.
Minor notice: it’s actually Sweden-based, although the holding company is incorporated in London for tax evasion purposes.
Well is it was a paid app we would have featured it on http://www.appgiveaway.com
Question: if I have an android phone but I live in the US theres no way I can use spotify right?
Can someone explain this to me … if I was track down a copy of the Spotify app *nudge nudge* would it work on my US iPhone if I already have a Spotify account (within the US).
Spotify is a great product, but US users or users that want to try another great product-check out Grooveshark http://www.groovehark.com It’s streaming music like Spotify and in great quality with nearly everything you can think of.
Iphone is good my user 3 year