Apple approves Spotify streaming music app for iPhone

In a move that might have come as a surprise to some, Apple has approved an iPhone app from streaming music service Spotify. Spotify hasn't come to the US yet, but it's taking Europe by storm, and making more money for labels than the iTunes store in some countries. That's why there was some uncertainty that Apple would approve an app that seems like a strong competitor to its own music service. However, Spotify is reporting that they've been in communication with Apple and heard that their app will make it into the store.

What makes Spotify better than its streaming competitors is the ability to cache tracks into a playlist for offline listening. It's not the same thing as downloading them from a music store, but Spotify's subscription model is clearly very attractive, considering its popularity in the parts of the world where it's launched so far. The next test is whether Spotify makes it to the US in time to gain an advantage over competitors like Grooveshark and Rhapsody, both of which have submitted iPhone apps to the store.

[via ReadWriteWeb]

Tags: apple, iphone, music, spotify, streaming