The Spotify Connect Wi-Fi streaming platform will soon be compatible with devices made by the likes of Bose, Panasonic and Philips as it seeks to rival Apple’s AirPlay platform.
A year after the tech, which allows users to send music from their mobile devices and computers, to enabled speakers, the streaming giant announced a raft of new partners.
New Spotify Connect speakers from Bose, Panasonic and Gramofon will launch in the coming weeks and months. Philips has also pledged to launch the first Smart TV with Spotify Connect integration.
Spotify, which boasted of reaching 80 compatible Connect devices in the first 12 months, says that number will swell to 100 by the end of 2014, aided by the new partnerships.
More relationships with manufacturers, to join existing accords with the likes of Sony, Bang & Olufsen and Samsung, will be announced at next week’s IFA 2014 show in Berlin next week.
“Our mission with Connect was to give people a better way to listen at home, and we have delivered exactly that for music fans all over the world in just one year,” says Sten Garmark, VP Product at Spotify.
"We wanted to offer a broad range of devices, and our partners have delivered an incredible range of innovative Multi Room systems, receivers, radios and dongles for every budget. This is just the beginning. Our goal is to put Connect devices into the home of every music fan on the planet.”
The launch of more gadgets will allow Spotify Connect to establish itself as a rival to Apple’s own AirPlay technology, which allows users to send audio and video from iOS and Mac OS X to the Apple TV set-top box, as well as stream audio to speakers from the likes of Bowers & Wilkins, Logitech and Philips.
For fans of both Spotify and Apple fans, there’s little need to choose. You can stream already Spotify to AirPlay speakers from an iPhone or iPad.
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