So instead it’s been working with gadget-maker companies. There were rumours about MP3 players and Ek himself talked about musical lightbulbs.īut it seems that Spotify realised it was stretching itself too thin, and needed to focus on podcasts and music, and its forecast of reaching 400 million global users by 2021’s end.

In job ads for hardware product managers located in its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, it described the hardware as “a category-defining product akin to Pebble Watch, Amazon Echo, and Snap Spectacles” and working within the voice space. Users have the option of a touchscreen or a physical dial that scrolls menus and makes a selection.Ĭar Thing was initially offered to select Premium subscribers in April before being “launched” in mid-October on a limited basis.Īt this point it’s only available to US subscribers until the chip supply is resolved.įive years ago, Spotify was signalling plans to move into making its own hardware devices. “We just can’t make enough to get them out there to consumers”.Ĭar Thing, which costs $110 in Australia, is especially convenient for users to navigate Spotify in cars with no, or older, infotainment systems.ĭrivers with a smartphone with a wi-fi or mobile data connection can turn on tracks, podcasts, albums or playlists inside Spotify’s library with a “Hey Spotify” command. “The #1 constraint for us at this particular moment… is chip shortages,” admitted Spotify CEO Daniel Ek. It didn’t expect 2 million to rush to sign on. Last month Spotify invited its premium privileged to go on its waiting list.

How concepts spotify car thing