“Apple says it has approved an iPhone app from Spotify, a music service that some people believe represents a growing threat to iTunes,” Robert Andrews reports for paidContent.
“The decision has been closely watched in part because Apple has previously disallowed apps it deems to duplicate core functions of its handset,” Andrews reports. “Speculation had centered on whether Apple would regard an unlimited-music app as potentially cannibalizing its own iTunes Store’s a la carte downloads, although there’s no proof that this is how it feels.”
“Spotify is winning rave reviews, but a question mark hangs over its chances of financial success.,” Andrews reports. “The app would be free to download but requires a £9.99-a-month subscription, which also removes ads. Spotify says there will also be an annual-subscription option.”
MacDailyNews Note: Spotify is a proprietary P2P music streaming service that allows users to listen to specific tracks or albums with little or no buffering delay. Music can be browsed by artists, albums or created playlists as well as by direct search. Due to the system’s use of DRM, it is not possible to save the streamed music for use outside the application, but links are provided to allow the listener to directly purchase the material via partner retailers. Spotify in its free version is currently only available in parts of western Europe.
Andrews reports, “Spotify hopes to launch in the U.S. in Q3 or Q4.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Note: Currently, we cannot find the Spotify app in any of Apple’s western European App Stores.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “John A.” for the heads up.]
Andrews reports, “Spotify hopes to launch in the U.S. in Q3 or Q4.”
…doesn’t sound very snappy to me…
No one will use it… The iTunes store is so ruthlessly efficient and people know how to use that.
Subscription? Won’t be too successful, but it may pull in the Microsoft subscription fans out there holding out for such a service.
I would rather own than rent my music, generally.
I have discovered, though, that as I’ve gotten a little older I buy less and less music and I tend to listen to a fairly narrow number of tunes, and sometimes when I host parties there are songs that someone would like to hear that I don’t have (usually because it’s new or some genre I’m not into).
It might be cool to be able to supply these songs without actually buying them.
The question is, then, does this happen enough to warrant a $15 that’s – poof- totally gone every month with nothing to show for it?
For me, the answer is likely no. However, I can see how there might be customers out there who it would appeal to. But, it would have to be very quick to load, flawless integration with the rest of my music and have a broad number of selections so that what’s requested is actually available most of the time.
@Macintosher – But if it’s anything like the desktop version, you can listen to any music, any time for free (albeit with a few adverts), and iTunes doesn’t let you do that.
Although having said that, reading the article again, it makes it sound like you’ll HAVE to pay. Maybe you’re right after all. Hmm. Have to wait and see.
Spotify works great with Wiretap (tee hee)
All this talk about money going poof — gone — with nothing to show for it… Well, I’m a smoker and, hey, that’s exactly what happens. You’re left with the memories, and a cough… Isn’t that enough, people?
When Rhapsody’s app launches, it too will be based on a $15/month subscription.
In EU there’s a free ad-based version that let’s you play tunes off-line; that will go over nicely here. But the RIAA will do everything in their power to muck it up, so I don’t see Spotify working in the US.
The subscription services that have had little to no success have been primarily download services, haven’t they? This seems more like customizable pay internet radio. I suppose there’s a market for that. But there’s so much free streaming music out there that I find it hard to believe I could be talked into paying for it.
——RM
I know kids these days listen to music over the build in speaker of their cellphone but i wonder what the sound quality is. (i didnt research at all)
@ Dirty Pierre le Punk,
“Due to the system’s use of DRM, it is not possible to save the streamed music for use outside the application”
“Spotify works great with Wiretap (tee hee)”
My thoughts exactly.
@macdailynews
“not possible to save the streamed music”
Done that on a number of occasions. And not with Wiretap either, ha.
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“The app would be free to download but requires a £9.99-a-month subscription…”
That is probably the sticking point right there. iPhone Apps can’t be designed to bypass the Store in generating revenue.