One will not think that Apple and Spotify’s bond would be thawing out anytime soon, given that Spotify has lodged an antitrust complaint against its streaming rival in the EU. But currently, the two corporates are reportedly in talks about a plan to allow iPhone users to play Spotify songs, playlists and albums using Siri voice commands, according to The Information.
Both companies have set up websites to lay out their respective arguments. Spotify has its “Time to Play Fair” page, and Apple responded to that with a lengthy public defense of App Store policies and practices. The company has also tried to point out flaws in Spotify’s accusations.
When it revealed iOS 13, Apple opened up the possibility of Siri working with rival music services via new SiriKit updates. If Apple and Spotify can work something out, users would be able to play Spotify tunes using Siri from an iPhone without the requirement to open the app. Reportedly, Apple Music would still be the default music service for Siri on Apple devices, according to The Information‘s sources.
The Information pointed out a recent change in language on Spotify’s site about Siri support in particular:
Old:
Apple will not allow users to be on HomePod and they definitely won’t let them connect with Siri to play their favorite jams.
New:
Only presently, Apple declared that it will allow users to connect with Siri to play their favorite jams…but fails to mention the name (“I want to play [X] on Spotify”) and the HomePod will default to Apple Music.
So, Spotify knows it has the new tools at its disposal and can solve for the long-standing and frustrating lack of Siri voice commands. The company hasn’t confirmed whether it plans to have an app update ready for when iOS 13 ships to consumers this fall.
