Spotify is taking full advantage of Apple’s recent U.S. App Store changes, and it’s now possible for Spotify subscribers to see audiobook pricing and make audiobook purchases using a web view in the Spotify app.
Spotify said today that Apple approved its latest update, which includes the audiobook functionality. If you’ve kept up with the disputes between Apple and Spotify over the years, you might remember that the two companies had a fight over audiobooks back in 2022.
When Spotify first added audiobooks to its app, Apple rejected the update three times because Spotify was breaking rules about how apps are allowed to communicate with users about purchasing options outside of the App Store. Spotify wanted to send customers to buy books online to listen to in the app, and at the time, Apple had a rule allowing apps to send emails to customers about online purchases. Spotify’s email had a link to purchase options, though, and Apple wouldn’t allow it.
Spotify ultimately surrendered in 2022 and removed information about how to purchase an audiobook from the Spotify app, and that’s how audiobooks on Spotify worked until now. The U.S.App Store changes that Apple was ordered to implement allow for apps to direct customers to purchase options outside of apps, » Read More