

"We currently rely on phones and this leads to 'set and forget' of playlists and podcasts. Spotify's differentiator from competitors is its recommendation engine, so they need a front and center interface apart from your phone to increase interaction. computer and data engineer, Nic Acton, posted his own theory on Twitter this week, writing: "Brands like TikTok are demonstrating the value of more frequent signals. Spotify said the smart player is not made to compete with in-car infotainment systems but is another step in the company's "larger ubiquity strategy," which aims to create a "truly frictionless audio experience" for its users regardless of their location.īut one U.S. One question that some may have about the release of the Car Thing is why? After all, most users who have a premium account are likely to have a smartphone handy. What is Spotify's strategy with Car Thing? Spotify said one Car Thing is allowed per subscriber while supplies last but has not confirmed how many devices would be available. Spotify has said the shipping fee for users in Alaska and Hawaii is $14.99.Ĭar Thing requires a paid premium subscription plan and a smartphone with WiFi or a mobile data connection to work. Those who are successful at getting one-by adding their details to a waiting list-will only have to pay a small shipping fee, which is listed on the site as being $6,99. if you want maps, calls, voice messages, etc, you’re going to have to use your phone (which is also fully capable of playing Spotify)- dan seifert ApHow to get on the Car Thing waitlistĬar Thing is being offered free for a limited time, but is only available for premium users in the U.S.

The Car Thing does ONE thing, play Spotify. Streaming is done via the phone's internet data. It can connect to a car via Bluetooth or an auxiliary cable. It's the company's first test of dedicated hardware and appears to be targeted at people with older vehicles lacking screen-based infotainment systems, the ability to have their phone on-show, or simply for its users who desire a dedicated Spotify player.Īccording to The Verge, there's no speakers on the device itself. On top of the voice control, there's a dial that can be used to browse, pause and play songs, alongside four preset buttons that can be assigned different categories.


The device, which was described as being a limited run, is specifically designed to play Spotify audio, so there's no maps or internet functionality built-in. The small music player-which essentially looks like a smartphone turned on its side-connects to a Spotify premium subscription and lets users search for songs, podcasts or entertainment on the app using a simple "Hey Spotify" voice command. Streaming giant Spotify unveiled its first hardware experiment this week: a Bluetooth-connected smart device officially named "Car Thing."
