Apple made headlines this week with its special event unveiling new Macs. However, there's a silent change that hasn't received much attention.
The company has discreetly discontinued the "Apple Music Voice Plan," leaving many Apple Music users in surprise.
Vanishing Act of Apple Music Voice Plan
The saga began with the release of iOS 17.1 beta when hints of the Apple Music Voice Plan's impending disappearance were discovered by 9to5Mac. Although the subscription was still accessible, it seems that Apple had different plans.
As reported by MacMagazine, the Apple Music Voice Plan webpage no longer exists on Apple's official site, and it now redirects users to the main Apple Music page.
Related Article : Apple Podcasts App Gets New Interface With iOS 17; Apple Music Radio Shows Now Available
A Look Back at the Voice Plan
The Apple Music Voice Plan, which is only accessible via Siri, was introduced in 2021 as a budget-friendly alternative for music lovers. It catered to users who were comfortable relying on Siri to curate their music experience.
Unlike other Apple Music tiers, the Voice Plan eliminated the manual operation of the Music app to select tracks. It became a Siri-exclusive zone.
However, with this cost-saving approach came a set of limitations. Subscribers couldn't add songs to their library or create custom playlists. Moreover, the plan restricted usage to Apple devices, excluding non-Apple devices. Lossless quality and Dolby Atmos were off the table, and real-time lyrics remained absent.
Silent Farewell: Why Did It Happen?
At the time of publication, Engadget reports that Apple hasn't stated the reason behind the removal of Music Voice Plan.
While the tech firm has not explicitly stated the reasons, it's not hard to speculate that Siri's exclusive role may have led to frustrations among users.
Impact on Subscribers
The Apple Music Voice Plan was available in select countries, but it is no longer open for new subscriptions. Current subscribers are likely to see their plans canceled at the time of renewal.
At $10.99 per month, you can avail the standard Apple Music subscription in the US. For family options, there's a special monthly tier for $16.99. Meanwhile, students can enjoy a cheaper pricing of $5.99 per month.
You're on Free Trial on Voice Plan, What's Next?
According to Apple's support page, you can still continue your plan for the first billing cycle at the end of the free trial. Before the billing cycle reaches its end, you will be notified about it.
Of course, you have the option to switch to another plan whether it's for an individual, family, or student tier.
In another report by Tech Times, you can allow Siri to read web articles on iOS 17. You can do either of the two methods to instruct the virtual voice assistant on this task.
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