PARIS, France - Online music streaming service Deezer expanded on Thursday into 22 countries including the Philipines.

Deezer said its service is also available in Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and other countries in the Middle East as it seeks to tap into fast-growing emerging markets.

Deezer said it will replicate the model that led it to success in France: offering limited free access to its library of 20 million songs while encouraging users to sign up to paid subscriptions.

"We are now able to offer innovative content adapted to different markets, without any geographical or technical constraints," said chief executive Axel Dauchez in a statement.

The development of the Internet and mobile networks in emerging markets "offers the potential for considerable growth," he added.

In the Middle East, it is available in Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Deezer is now also available in Brazil and Venezuela in South America, and in Algeria and South Africa in Africa.

The expansion now makes Deezer present in 182 countries, but its service is still not available China, India, Japan and the United States. - Rappler.com