We7 has launched a music app for Android devices

MUSIC STREAMING SERVICE We7 launched its mobile music application Friday, available to download via the Android Market.

We7's mobile version of its Internet streaming service has an interface designed for mobile devices. It uses caching to store music onto your device so that if you lose your WiFi or 3G connection you don't lose your stream of music.

You will require a connection initially to allow the app to cache enough data so that if you do lose the connection then you can carry on listening. So you can't expect to continue listening to music offline if you have only given the app a short period of time to download content.

We7's CEO, Steve Purdham told The INQUIRER, "15 to 30 minutes whilst the device has a connection should give you around 30 to 40 songs".

How well the connectionless part of the technology works will depend on both the type and speed of the connection your device is using and the amount of memory there is available to store the music.

There are two different services available for the mobile app, a free mobile radio version and a paid for on-demand 'jukebox' version. The free version will allow users to create up to ten different radio stations based around an artist or genre. This won't allow users to choose specifically what they listen to and will of course contain adverts. It does however allow you to skip a track if one comes up that you dislike.

Every time your device has an Internet connection the app will update the stations by adding more music to your cache. It will automatically select music based on the artist or genre you created the station around.

The on-demand version will cost £9.99 per month and will include both PC and mobile use. This 'jukebox' version turns the app into a media player allowing full control over what artists, albums or genres the user wants to listen to, with no adverts.

It's currently only available for Android users, but a version for Igadget owners will be be available in April. Support for Blackberry will come after that, with versions for Windows 7 and Symbian coming later. We7 hasn't issued any information on exactly when these versions will be available. µ