Spotify rival Rdio now streaming music in UK, try it free

Spotify has a new rival: Rdio has crossed the Atlantic, letting you stream music for free today.

Rdio was first tuned in by the former bosses of Skype in the US in 2010. It arrives in Blighty today, with a free 7 day trial that you  can access by signing up or logging in with Facebook. You don't have to give over credit card details, but you do have to choose from either male or female gender. Don't label us, Rdio!

Once you've signed up, you can listen through your browser for £5, or spend £10 to play music on apps for your iPhone, iPad, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, or media streamer.

Rdio is pretty similar to Spotify in terms of looks and features, with a similar setup for making playlists and sharing with your friends. They each have different advantages: Spotify has cool apps, while Rdio can be played through any browser.

Oh, and Rdio has more Pink Floyd, but if you want any Metallica or Beatles tunes you still have to buy them the old-fashioned way.

Spotify is now in the US after a couple of years of us Europeans having it all to ourselves. This week Spotify launched an iPad app, although the service also hit a bum note recently with Android app problems.

Spotify has led the streaming market for a while in the UK, but there are plenty of rivals -- including big names like HTC and Beats and Apple's iTunes -- who are also tuning up to take on streaming.

You can sign up for a free trial at Rdio.com. Could Rdio tempt you away from Spotify, or do you prefer to own your songs rather than rent them? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.