Streaming service Spotify wants to gain a foothold in the audio book market in addition to music and podcasts. But the start is rather bumpy.
Spotify recently officially launched its audiobook offering in the United States. As with competitor Audible, users have to pay per title, even if they have a premium subscription. iPhone owners cannot access the new offer. The reason for this is a dispute between Spotify and Apple.
Apple blocks Spotify app audiobook update
According to a report by The New York Times, Apple has blocked three app updates since Spotify’s audiobook offering began on September 20. The reason: the app does not comply with the App Store guidelines, which “determine how developers can communicate with customers about online purchases”.
Apple charges a fee of 30 percent of the price for all in-app purchases. Since 2021, however, the company has allowed developers to point out alternative payment options, such as by email. To avoid the fee, Spotify wanted to offer audiobook purchases outside of the app. According to The New York Times, the company has developed a nine-step process for this. When the play button was clicked, users were taken to a webpage where they could request purchase instructions by email. This update with the somewhat cumbersome purchase process has been approved for the App Store.
However, when Spotify wanted to provide an audiobook-independent, later update, Apple blocked it. According to the New York Times report, App Store reviewers justified the rejection by saying that Spotify had to use Apple’s payment function – although the previous update with payment outside of the app was already in circulation.
Audiobook purchase not possible in the Spotify app
In another attempt, Spotify removed the email instructions from the audiobook purchase process. Instead, the company wanted to link to its own website when users clicked a title in the iOS app. However, Apple also blocked this update.
Only after the Swedish company had removed all references to its own website or instructions by email from the app did Apple give the green light. However, it is no longer possible to purchase audio books via the app. Users only get the message: “We know it’s not ideal”.
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Apple blames Spotify
Apple told Macrumors that there is “no problem with reading apps that add audiobook content to their app and direct users to websites to sign up for services or communicate externally with customers about alternative purchase options.” “, have. However, the updates provided by Spotify would not have met App Store guidelines.