Key Points:
• Sonos app users are concerned that the company may introduce a subscription model, following a second year of declining revenue and significant app changes.
• The company’s app now controls devices through its own cloud, potentially giving it more control over user actions and making a subscription model technically possible.
• A former Sonos employee, laid off in the latest round of layoffs, believes that the large investment in the app without revenue generation suggests a potential subscription model in the future.
As a tech journalist, it’s my duty to keep you informed about the latest developments in the world of Apple and its ecosystem. Today, I’m focusing on the rather concerning rumors surrounding the popular smart speaker and home audio company, Sonos.
Sonos has been facing financial struggles, with revenue declining for the second year running. This decline has led to speculations that the company might be considering a subscription model for its app, which would grant it more control over user actions. The changes in the app’s functionality have shifted from being executed locally to going through Sonos’ servers, allowing the company to exert more control over user behavior.
A leaked report by an ex-Sonos employee, who was made redundant in the latest round of layoffs, further fuels the speculation. The employee, who wishes to remain anonymous, expressed skepticism about the vast resources invested in the app development without any revenue generation. The only explanation he received from the app team was that the new app offered more flexibility and opened up possibilities that were previously unexplored.
This is not the first time I’ve covered news about smart home devices and their potential subscription models. We’ve seen a significant shift towards subscription-based services in the tech industry, and it’s not hard to imagine Sonos following suit.
While Sonos has denied any current plans for a subscription model, they haven’t ruled out the possibility entirely. This has left users on the edge, already uneasy about the new app’s functionality.
If you’re a Sonos user, you might want to keep a close eye on the company’s announcements and statements in the coming months. In the meantime, I’d like to remind you that it’s always a good idea to regularly review your app permissions and settings to ensure you’re comfortable with the level of control each app has over your devices.
As we wait with bated breath for more information, I’d love to hear from you, our readers. Do you think a subscription model would be a good move for Sonos, or is there another solution that could address their financial struggles? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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