That’s a problem because some smart speakers, such as the Apple HomePod, aren’t really compatible with Spotify. Without proper, native integration, the experience of streaming music from Spotify isn’t nearly as good but it seems that’s all about to change. In February 2018, three job ads were spotted by MusicAlly one of which is Senior Project Manager Hardware Production. And it isn’t the first time that job ads have suggested the company is moving into hardware. It doesn’t mean Spotify is building a smartwatch, glasses and speakers, although it might have aspirations to do precisely that. For now, it’s likely that speakers are in development, possibly with the company’s own voice assistant baked in. The reason to suspect that instead of Spotify simply buying in an existing one, such as Alexa or Google Assistant, is that some users have discovered a new voice search feature ‘hidden’ within the latest version of the music app. It uses your phone’s mic and allows you to use voice commands to play not only specific music but also more generic requests such as “Play today’s top hits” and “Play my Discover Weekly”.
When will Spotify release a speaker?
It’s too early to say. The job ads indicate the firm is in a position to hire operations managers and set up the supply chain. But don’t expect to hear any announcements of actual products for a long while yet, and certainly not until 2019. Jim has been testing and reviewing products for over 20 years. His main beats include VPN services and antivirus. He also covers smart home tech, mesh Wi-Fi and electric bikes.
