Spotify launched audiobooks for its users in the US recently, but the process of buying them is far too complicated and confusing. That’s not our blunt verdict, but… Spotify’s!
The recent launch is the latest spark in the streaming service’s long-running lobbying battle with Apple over the latter’s App Store.
“The Audiobooks purchase flow that Apple’s rules force us to provide consumers today is far too complicated and confusing — confusing because they change the rules arbitrarily, making them impossible to interpret,” claimed Spotify in a blog post yesterday. “Bottom line, we’re forced to make users work even harder to listen to an audiobook. This harms not only consumers, but, this time, also authors and publishers who now find themselves under Apple’s thumb.”
Spotify has also added a new section on audiobooks to its ‘Time to Play Fair’ Apple-critique website, including breaking out the caps-lock button for its experience trying to get its audiobooks update approved by Apple. “Our initial flow? REJECTED. Our first fix? REJECTED. Our second fix? Again, REJECTED. The third fix? Approved, but an experience dictated by Apple at your expense…”
Apple’s response, given to the New York Times, was brisk. “We provided them with clear guidance on how to resolve the issue, and approved their app after they made changes that brought it into compliance,” said its spokesperson.
The battle continues.
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