As is often the case with Spotify, if users complain and request a feature enough, it eventually comes. Earlier in the year, that was the case for the music streaming company’s iPad app and now The Verge is reporting that it will launch a browser-based player for the service.
The Next Web contacted Spotify, which confirmed that it was testing such an app, but it is currently only available to a small number of users:
We can confirm we’ve launched a beta version of a Spotify web player that we’re testing with a small number of users. Potentially it’s a great additional feature for times you can’t play music through the desktop app, like at work or at a friend’s house. We’ll have more detail on the web player next year.
According to The Verge, the web player operates similarly to the Mac and Windows clients, but will include a “basic feature set.” This means that search, Spotify Radio, playlist editing and a What’s New section will be available, including audio ads and banner ads.
Given Spotify’s statement, the web player is on course for an early 2013 launch. This will allow the company to offer a similar service to Rdio and Grooveshark, allowing users to access their tracks and playlists should they not want to use the company’s existing smartphone and tablet apps.
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Spotify hasn’t elaborated on its plans for beta access just yet, we will update you when we know more.
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