Spotify in the wake of its Facebook Open Graph support said it was phasing out the invitation-only system for the US version. Listeners will have the option of signing up on their own, like their European counterparts. The company’s community lead Andres Sehr explained in a brief TechCrunch chat that members would need to sign in through Facebook to get the free access without an invite.
The six-month Premium access would also carry over in this phase. Facebook listening would still count against the 10-hour monthly cap and listens-per-track limits once if Spotify members revert to free instead of subscribing. Spotify still has to run in its own app to work.
Reaching the US has so far proven to be a boon to Spotify’s numbers. Although most of its members are still European, its milestone of two million Premium subscribers was accelerated by the American audience. A high-profile launch, the cachet of an invite-only free system and its simplicity may have played roles in getting new users.
Unlimited listening on the desktop costs $5 per month. To get mobile support on Android and the iPhone needs a $10 Premium plan.
