Last.fm to start charging for iPhone and Android radio service

Online streaming service Last.fm is to start charging users for accessing its content on mobile devices.

The Last.fm app, available on Android smartphones and Apple's iPhone, had previously been free but from 15 February will require a subscription fee of £3 a month.

UK and US users of the Windows Phone 7 and Xbox 360 apps will also now be charged.

However an "ad-supported", free-to-listen version of Last.fm will still be available in the UK, the US and in Germany. The Last.fm desktop app will also still be free to use.

Speaking in his blog about the changes, Last.fm's Matthew Hawn said: "You'll see that this change brings us in line with other music services that already charge you to listen to music on mobile devices.

"For the cost of a fancy coffee, a Last.fm monthly subscription allows you to listen to radio across all platforms, on all your devices, and without commercial interruptions."

But some Last.fm users were clearly unhappy with the changes. In comments posted below the announcement one user wrote:

"Goodbye Last.fm, it was fun while it lasted. I'm not going to pay £3 per month for this."

While another added: "Uninstalled. Not worth paying for I'm afraid."

The company said that other services, such as music and event recommendations and social networking would remain free to all users.