MOG Launches Mobile Apps while Spotify Is Still M.I.A. in the US

The online music is as dynamic as ever and the number of interesting services is increasing, even as some music services close down or are acquired. One of the most interesting and perhaps the most surprising online music service to launch in the US lately has been MOG, a subscription-based service that has been very well received so far.

Now, it's announcing mobile apps for both the iPhone and the Android platforms, making for a pretty interesting offering if it can pull off the same quality of service as it did for its web-based one. But, as others are making decisive moves on the US market, Spotify, the very hyped and very popular European music-streaming service, is still unavailable in the country.

At the SXSW festival, MOG announced its new mobile service, which would complement its existing one but also make for an interesting proposition by itself. There will be apps for the iPhone and Android devices, arguably the two biggest smartphone markets at the moment, and MOG has made some interesting choices for the service. MOG for mobile will cost $10 a month, double what the regular service costs. The best part is that the app will allow users to download the songs to their phones, any songs they want, and to listen to them even if they don't have an Internet connection.

However, one of the most anticipated and popular music-streaming services, Spotify, is still not available in the US several months since the initial deadline. The service has been available in Europe for more than a year and it has proven quite successful, especially in the UK. Its greatest advantage and the biggest reason why the launch has been postponed in the US is that it offers a free, ad-based alternative along with the premium one.

However, labels have proven very reluctant in cutting the same deal and letting Spotify offer a free service in the US. It remains to be seen if the company is successful in the negotiations and will be free Stateside as well, though it is rather unlikely. Spotify CEO Daniel Ek is scheduled for a keynote speech at SXSW later today leading to speculation that this will be the moment the company announces the launch of the US service.