Launched today, Spotify Connect offers a new AirPlay-like feature to Premium subscribers, allowing them to instantly switch playback from the music streaming service to connected wireless speakers and other devices.
Spotify Connect connects with users’ at-home Wi-Fi network in order to recognise compatible devices for playback and make the switch with a simple tap. So, if you arrive home while listening to your favourite playlist on your smartphone, you can just tap the Spotify Connect logo beside the playback controls to see the available devices and select to play.
Spotify will then continue streaming music right where you left off on the other device and will do so directly over the Wi-Fi network, leaving users free to use their smartphone without interrupting playback and also ensuring that streaming to other devices doesn’t drain their battery.
Any device already used to stream from Spotify will be recognised by Spotify Connect once the user is logged in and devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Spotify has also collaborated with audio manufacturers to offer built-in compatibility on a range of wireless speakers from Argon, Bang & Olufsen, Denon, Hama, Marantz, Philips, Pioneer, Revo and Yamaha, with more to come.
The new feature is very similar to Apple’s AirPlay technology, which already allows OS X and iOS users to switch playback to a wireless speaker on the same network, but streaming in this case still comes via the original device.
Spotify Connect will be available to Premium subscribers only and launches today for iOS devices, including the iPod touch, iPhone and iPad. Updates to the Android and desktop apps are on the way.
