Since Apple announced its shift to not only be a hardware and software company but also a service one in 2018, it has introduced several new subscriptions such as Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, Apple Fitness+, and, ultimately, the Apple One bundle. Now, a report suggests the company could launch an audiobooks service later this year.
According to a piece by The Economist about Apple’s effort in competing with Netflix, Disney, and Amazon on the video streaming war, there’s an interesting tidbit regarding the company’s next move in services:
Unfortunately, the story only mentions the possible audiobooks service once, but this is the first time a major publication backs up this new field. For example, a few weeks ago, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman wrote in his Power On newsletter that we should get ready for more Apple services in 2022.
Although he doesn’t make any assumptions, Gurman gives his opinion about what Apple should do. In his words, “expand the Apple One program and better integrate services.”
In these past years, there hasn’t been a lot to corroborate with The Economist‘s report. For example, in 2020, Apple hired Amazon Video executive James DeLorenzo to lead the sports division on Apple TV. Since then, the company hasn’t aggregated a lot of efforts on the sports section, but, at least, DeLorenzo has an interesting background in another Amazon subsidiary. He was a Senior Vice President of Audible, Inc., a company focused on audiobooks and storytelling.
Audible, it’s important to note, is part of Apple’s “established program for premium subscription entertainment providers,” and since 2021, its users can buy audiobooks directly within the app, using Audible credits, like the way users can buy Amazon Prime movies and TV shows within Amazon’s built-in content store.
9to5Mac’s take
Although we still have to wait and see if more analysts and leakers will corroborate with Apple adding new services to Apple One, there are some areas the company could easily create new services to make its Apple One bundle even more appealing. For example:
- Turn Apple Original podcasts part of the Apple Music subscription;
- As Gurman said, add some free movies to the Apple TV+ subscription from the iTunes Store;
- Start competing with Amazon and launch its own books’ service with the Apple Books app.
Not only that, but Apple has still a long way to go to expand already existing services. Apple News+ is still very limited and the Apple Card, although not a service subscription-based product, is still only available in the US. Apple Fitness+ saw a major expansion later last year, but there are a ton of countries still waiting for this option.
Of course, it’s not that easy for the company to simply roll out products across the globe. In Brazil, for example, Apple never offered the ability to buy TV shows within the iTunes Store nor have access to audiobooks.
When or whether Apple adds or expands its services, the company has also a better opportunity to earn more money by offering pricier bundles such as the Apple One Premier.
What do you think about this rumored audiobooks service? Would you like Apple to offer it? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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