Spotify said its music streaming service for mobile users is now free, but customers will have to listen to music as part of an album in shuffle mode.
On Wednesday, December 11, Spotify announced that its customers can access millions of songs on mobile devices for free. Spotify also launched its free services in additional 20 new markets and now music lovers across 55 markets can stream free music using the Spotify app.
"Today we're giving people the best free music experience in the history of the smartphone and the tablet," said Daniel Ek, CEO and founder at Spotify. "Whether you're going to the gym, or having a party with friends. Just sit back and let Spotify serve you great music for every moment of your life."
The company has more than 24 million active users globally and it will increase more with the launch of the service in additional 20 markets. Around 6 million Spotify customers are paying for the premium ad-free service, which costs $10 a month, whereas the free version of the Spotify app is supported by ads.
"Spotify's move to offer a mobile listening experience to users who do not subscribe signifies the company's hope to use the free mobile experience to get another six million people to first try it out for free and then eventually splurge for the on-demand subscription," said James McQuivey, an analyst with Forrester.
The free Spotify service will let people listen to songs generated only in a playlist. Unlike the premium service, the free Spotify service will not allow users to listen to specific tracks on-demand.
Spotify was created in 2006 by two Swedes, Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. The service is amongst one of the most popular streaming music services in the world but is yet to make a profit. The company recently announced that it lost 58.7 million euros on sales of 434.7 million euros ($594 million) in 2012.
