New Media Age reports that music streaming phenomenon Spotify has secured its first UK mobile operator partnership with 3. Such a deal would follow weeks of rumours concerning a UK tieup. The report notes that HTC’s Hero device, which uses Google’s Android platform, will be the first 3 phone to feature the Spotify app and is slated to launch before Christmas. More devices bundled with the music service are expected to follow. Only last week Spotify announced a partnership with Swedish operator TeliaSonera. Spotify has more than 5.5 million users globally and is funded by paid subscriptions and advertising.

Last month it was reported that China’s Li Ka-Shing Foundation, which previously invested in Joost, has invested in the much-hyped music streamer. Ka-Shing is also chairman at Hutchison Whampoa, owner of operator 3 and social network-focused mobile handset maker INQ. The Li Ka-Shing Foundation will have one seat on Spotify’s board, taken by INQ CEO Frank Meehan. This has prompted strong speculation that INQ Mobile will launch a phone that will integrate closely with Spotify. Given INQ’s focus on online services such as Facebook and Twitter, a step into the online music world seems logical.