Spotify to begin rolling out browser-based music app in beta

By Ellis Hamburger
Original Link http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/15/3649068/spotify-browser-player-web-app

Spotify today plans to begin the roll out of its first ever browser-based music player, The Verge has learned from sources close to the company. From the looks of it, the web player looks a lot like its desktop counterparts on Mac and Windows, including search, Spotify Radio, playlist editing and creation, and a "What's New" section. Like its desktop apps, Spotify on the web will likely be free to use but include audio ads and banners ads. The web app will roll out over the coming months, we're told, and will supplement but not replace the company's desktop apps.

A browser-based player has been one of Spotify's most requested features, and one of the most obvious differences between it and chief competitor Rdio, which has had a web player for years. A web player opens up Spotify to people who don't want to (or aren't allowed to) download apps, and is also simply a nice feature for current users who want to bring their music to a friend's house. It's unclear exactly what technology Spotify has chosen to use for streaming music in its web player, but that should soon become clear — Spotify's desktop apps on one hand use peer-to-peer technology to guarantee super-fast load times, while its mobile apps stream content straight from Spotify's servers.

A browser-based Spotify music player was rumored back in early September, but so was a company-wide "redesign" we've yet to see.

Update: The web player is now live in some regions, and users will receive a Facebook invite when the service is ready.