Apparently, it’s not enough for Spotify to be offered as a feature on car radios. It reportedly wants to offer its own in-car music player in a fight for dominance on or in the dashboard with rivals CarPlay, Android Auto and Alexa.
A new Spotify Bluetooth controller is due later this year, offering voice control at a price of about $100, reports The Financial Times, citing anonymous sources.
The Spotify device is expected to offer preset buttons for specific playlists. In addition, users would get voice control using the “Spotify Voice” system.
The Financial Times noted that the expected price of $100 is “cheaper than most brand-name car stereo systems,” although there are plenty of basic head units at that price.
Lending credence to the report of the Spotify controller, the company also recently announced a “car view” mode for its Android App, showing larger and simpler controls.
Spotify is not alone in its Bluetooth controller plans. Amazon is currently testing an Alexa DIY controller for the car called Echo Auto. It’s currently offered ‘by invitation only,’ at $24.99 as seen here.
Spotify leads in the worldwide music streaming market with 87 million paid subscribers. But in the US, Apple is the number one paid music streaming service.
Source: Financial Times (subscription may be required) via The Verge
Photo: The Verge
