Spotify launches application for Nokia phones

Swedish streaming software Spotify announced on Monday the launch of a music application for the Symbian platform, used by the world's biggest mobile phone maker Nokia and other smartphones.

Only customers who subscribe to Symbian's paying premium service will be able to download the software application onto their smartphones, the company said in a statement.

The Symbian platform is used on almost 50 percent of mobiles worldwide, and on many Sony-Ericsson and Samsung telephones.

"The launch of Spotify's Symbian app opens up our mobile music service to potentially millions more music fans across Europe," said director of portable solutions for Symbian Gustav Soederstroem.

Founded in 2008, the company is one of the world's largest streaming websites.

Streaming websites are gaining in popularity, but are increasingly trying to supplement their advertising revenues by offering paying versions.

Spotify, which is currently only available in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Britain, France and Spain because of copyright issues, launched an application for Apple's iPhone and Google's Android in September.

It allows music fans to search for new tunes and then stream them directly on their handsets.

(c) 2009 AFP