Spotify says it’s now letting free-tier subscribers stream music over Spotify Connect-enabled speakers. In order to benefit from the change, hardware manufacturers will need to update to Spotify’s latest SDK, letting you enjoy the ad-supported service over a high-quality Wi-Fi connection instead of Bluetooth.
Spotify Connect speakers set free, no longer require premium subscriptions
Your speaker will need an update though
Your speaker will need an update though
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
Spotify’s free tier still has its limitations compared to Spotify Premium, but back in April a redesigned app gave non-paying subscribers a lot more freedom in what they can listen to. Instead of being forced to shuffle tracks across the entire catalog, Spotify gave non-paying users 15 auto-generated playlists which they could freely choose to play songs from, although they still have to listen to ads after every few tracks.
There are still plenty of limitations to the service if you opt not to pay. Spotify free subscribers can’t download songs, can only skip a limited number of tracks, and are confined to lower-quality audio. Still, if it was your hatred of Bluetooth that kept you paying for Premium, now might be the time to think about cancelling your subscription.
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