Spotify, a free and subscription-based music streaming service that originated in Europe, announced Wednesday that it would expand its reach to the United States.
Spotify is a software application that allows instant streaming of tracks and albums. The service recently signed a deal with Virgin Media to expand its reach in Britain.
More than 10 million people use the application across Europe, which has a free version supported by advertising and an ad-free version available through a paid monthly subscription.
Users can enter an e-mail address on the service's website to get an invite when it officially launches in the states.
People can only stream music from the application itself as opposed to illegally downloading the music to their computers, a practice that has come under intense scrutiny on local and federal levels. In 2010, the Department of Homeland Security seized a slew of Web addresses linked to illegal downloading as part of a larger government crackdown on pirating.
Spotify's business model and aversion to illegal downloading sets it apart from previous services like Napster, which ran into legal issues and was forced to shutdown in 2001 because of copyright infringement.
Anticipation for a U.S. version of Spotify has been mounting since the service gained attention overseas. Founded in Sweden in 2006, the application has a similar look and feel to the ever-popular iTunes and has long been seen as a competitor to Apple and other companies who offer music streaming and purchases.
Spotify hasn't released details on the exact date of the launch, or how much it will cost.
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