Spotify just announced that anyone using iOS or Android tablets and smartphones can use their music streaming app for free. Earlier, only desktop and laptop users had access to an ad-supported but free version of Spotify. Tablet users can now also avail the same listening pleasure as desktop users…but again with ads. Even then, the freemium option for tablet users is a great deal because previously you had to pay $9.99 to use Spotify on platforms other than the desktop.

Music buffs using smartphones get a distinctly different offering – the Spotify "Shuffle". Spotify Shuffle is like radio based streaming services like Pandora or ITunes Radio, but with better control over your personal playlists. You can listen to your own playlists and those from the people you follow. You can't pick the exact song you want to play, but instead hit the "Shuffle" button for a random listening experience with the songs on the particular playlist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-EIBBbxnfA

Spotify does say –

Want to listen to a certain artist? Just hit shuffle play, sit back and listen to their entire catalogue. Don’t settle for something similar. Don’t settle for just one track from the artist you want to hear every 20 minutes.

The new mobile experience also makes room to discover new songs and new playlists, tap into specially curated playlists for every mood and occasion. Most importantly, do it all for free.

Do you agree that it sounds like music to your ears? Do you think this allows it to close the gap with other services like Pandora?

Source: Spotify Blog [Broken URL Removed]