Amazon is reportedly working on not one but two music streaming services, and if all pans out well, it could launch the two as soon as next month.
Assuming that this development is true, it appears that the retailer is out to step into the market strong with multiple offerings in store to appeal to a lot of users out there.
First Option: $10 Per Month Music Subscription
For starters, Amazon is believed to roll out a $10 service that will let subscribers stream all the music they can on any compatible device, and that typically includes smartphones, computers and tablets. Needless to say, it's ad free, and it offers unlimited access to songs and offline playback.
It's also worth mentioning that this isn't the first time that reports about the retailer's plans to release a Spotify competitor have surfaced, as they started to turn up back in June.
Second Option: $5 Per Month Music Subscription
Now, for the more interesting bit of news, Amazon is said to launch a $5 service that features an ad-free listening experience, unlimited music and offline support. That's half the price compared with the $10 subscriptions from the likes of Spotify and Apple Music.
The catch? Well, it'll only work with Echo. Just to be clear, that means that subscribers won't be able to use the service on any other device, including smartphones and whatnot.
At any rate, it's a pretty affordable choice among the current brood, and according to industry sources that Recode got in touch with, the price could go even lower to $4 a month.
The Bottom Line
In light of the second option, it looks like Amazon wants Echo to flourish and become the go-to platform for many services in the foreseeable future. On that note, the smart speaker has been improving recently, getting updated with the function to add events to Google Calendar and more.
As for the release date, the services are expected to go official in September, but the sources say that the retailer still has to strike up deals with major music firms before anything gets off the ground.
With all said and done, are you willing to fork over $4 or $5 a month for restricted but affordable music streaming? If so, feel free to drop by our comments section below and let us know.
Also, hat tip to Peter Kafka of Recode for the full report.
