Napster launches a mobile application for Android and Iphone

ENTIRELY LEGAL MUSIC SERVICE Napster has announced that it is launching an app for mobile phones. The service, which claims to offer more than 15 million songs, was previously only available on a computer via a web browser or Windows software.

Fruit themed devices and Android handsets both will get access to the free app, but a paid subscription is required to make it do anything useful. It plays to Napster's strengths though, offering access to the company's featured playlists, chart listings and its own radio stations.

The service claims to work over 2.5G and 3G connections, although mobile operators will send a big bill or cut off data service if you make use of those data intensive services too much. Napster doesn't put any restrictions on use, so WiFi streaming is unlimited.

Before today's announcement, Napster did have one advantage over its upstart rival Spotify. Its subscription was a more palatable £5 per month with five free MP3s thrown into the bargain. From what we can see, the free MP3s have gone from the £5 service and users wanting access to the mobile streaming service must cough up £10 per month, the same as Spotify.

The £5 service might not offer mobile streaming, but it's probably worth pointing out that it does work on computers and multi-room audio systems like Sonos for that price, which is a significant saving over Spotify.

So, the battle is on. Spotify is the only music service anyone seems to talk about these days, but Napster now has a similar offering. Who will win? Who cares? But having choice is better than a monopoly as we always say at The INQUIRER. µ