Spotify releases API to developers

Spotify last week gave third-party developers access to an API so they can write their own applications to make use of its on-demand music streaming service.

The Libspotify package allows anybody to write their own Spotify client, but for the time being it's only available for Linux.

A lot of interest has been shown by hardware companies like Sonos and Logitech who are looking at ways of integratnig Spotify streaming into peripherals.  Spotify clients should also become available for consoles like the Xbox and the PS3.

Apps built using the API will only be available to premium subscribers, and not to users of the free, ad-supported service.  Other restrictions have been placed on the type of peripherals that can run third-party Spotify clients, with mobiles and smartphones currently not allowed.