Music streaming platform Spotify has submitted its mobile application to Apple’s App Store and an iPhone version could be launched within days, according to reports.
The BBC reports that if approved by Apple, iPhone users will be able to download the Spotify app onto their devices, which they can then use to search for and download music. Users will also be able to stream playlists over the Internet.
The app will use a caching system to enable users to listen to songs when they are not connected to the Internet, the BBC reports.
The app will only be available to Spotify’s premium users – those who pay a £9.99 a month subscription fee to be able to listen to songs advert-free. The free desktop version lets users stream as much music as they wish, but with adverts played between songs.
However, it is not clear whether Apple will approve Spotify’s mobile app as it may clash with its own iTunes service. The company is also working on a mobile app for Android phones.
Swedish-based Spotify was launched last year across Europe and now boasts over six million users, with one million of those coming from the UK. It is rumoured to be planning a US launch later this year.
The free desktop version is supported by adverts played between songs or users can upgrade to the premium service where songs are streamed uninterrupted.
The service has been hailed as a saviour of the music industry because it offers a free alternative to piracy – the illegal downloading and sharing of copyrighted music.
Spotify has been looking to expand the number of songs available in its catalogue and recently signed a deal with the Independent Online Distribution Alliance (IODA) to offer users over two million songs from independent artists. Spotify is now thought to offer around five million tracks in its catalogue.
