Spotify Issues Specialized App for Apple iPad Users

Spotify Ltd., the music streaming service, released a specialized application for Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s iPad that allows subscribers to search for songs, playlists and connect with other users.

The software, available on Apple’s App Store, displays cover art in high-definition and provides gapless playback and crossfade for uninterrupted listening, London-based Spotify said in an e-mailed statement.

Spotify is seeking to sign up more premium subscribers where access is available on mobile devices for $9.99 a month. Before now, iPad owners were limited to using Spotify’s program for the iPhone, which is built for a smaller screen. The new app allows users with Apple TV devices to stream music from an iPad to their home stereo using Apple’s AirPlay technology.

The iPad app’s features also include highlighting music that’s being played the most across the service’s 17 million- song library and the most popular playlists among a user’s group of friends. Spotify is offering non-subscribers a free 30-day trial to use the iPad app.

The online music provider has more than 10 million active customers who use its free ad-supported service and 3 million subscribers who pay for either the $4.99 monthly service limited to desktop computers, or pay for its premium mobile service.

To contact the reporter on this story: Andy Fixmer in Los Angeles at afixmer@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Anthony Palazzo at apalazzo@bloomberg.net