Spotify has announced that it will now display pricing information for its services within its app on Apple devices in the European Union, starting Wednesday, August 14.
This change follows a lengthy standoff between Spotify and Apple, during which Apple had initially rejected Spotify’s request to show prices in its iOS app. The rejection was tied to Spotify’s refusal to accept Apple’s new Music Streaming Services Entitlement terms, which were introduced to comply with EU regulations for how music streaming apps inform users about purchasing options.
After Apple was fined €1.84 billion (about $2 billion USD) by European regulators in March for violating antitrust rules, the company made it easier for music streaming apps like Spotify to communicate with users on iOS devices in the EU. As a result, Spotify decided to accept Apple’s terms, allowing it to display the pricing for various subscription plans, including its newer audiobook offerings, in the iOS app.
This update allows Spotify to:
- Display pricing for subscription plans that include audiobook streaming.
- Show the cost of additional “top off” hours that users can purchase to complete their audiobook listening.
- Provide a la carte pricing for individual audiobook purchases.
But Spotify Won’t Include a Purchase Link
Spotify has not opted to include an external link within its app that would direct users to its website for purchases. Doing so would require Spotify to pay Apple a 27% commission on those transactions. Instead, Spotify’s app will refer users to its website without mentioning “spotify.com” by name, as Apple has not allowed even non-hyperlinked text to include the domain name.
In addition to the pricing update, Spotify is launching a promotion in the EU to encourage users to upgrade their subscription plans through its website. The promotion offers the first three months of service for free before the subscription charges begin, a tactic that Spotify has successfully used on Android devices without similar obstacles.
Despite these developments, Spotify views this change as only a minor advancement in its broader goal of providing iPhone users with the same seamless purchasing experience available to users of other devices. In a statement, Spotify expressed frustration with Apple’s continued restrictions, noting that while progress has been made, the company still cannot offer a simple in-app purchase link without facing what it calls Apple’s “illegal and predatory” commission fees.
Featured Image courtesy of Dado Ruvic/REUTERS
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