Spotify Open to challenge Apple hegemony

The free version of Spotify will soon feature a function that allows users to synch their music library and playlists to mobile devices, including iPods and iPhones that so far could only be synched with iTunes. Synchronisation is as easy as connecting your devices, either with USB or via a WiFi network. Apple users will still need iTunes to update their software and install apps.

Spotify makes this move to attract more users. This functionality has been added as it was the most requested addition to the service.

Furthermore, Spotify changes it’s music store. Earlier, the Swedish music service cooperated with online music store 7digital, but this partnership has been dismantled. Acquiring music via the Spotify store happens through bundles. For example, you can buy 10 MP3s for 10 euro, or 100 songs for 80 euros. This makes Spotify cheaper than the iTunes store, that charges between 69 cents and 1,29 euro for songs, depending on release date and popularity.

What would Apple think of this move? Spotify Chief Product Officer Gustav Soderstrom feels the Cupertino-based tech giant supports it. "They have encouraged third-party services through the App Store for the iPhone, iPod Touch and more recently the Mac platform. They believe that having a third-party ecosystem really drives hardware sales." In the past, however, Apple has not always been forgiving with services that intrude on their iTunes platform. Soderstrom is quick to point out that Spotify does not do that: the iTunes library is left alone and DRM-protected songs are not synchronised.

Source: The Guardian