While Apple is locked in a legal battle with Epic Games, the tech giant might soon butt heads with streaming giant Spotify. The streaming service has released a statement today, hitting Apple’s new subscription bundle, called Apple One. 

Spotify vs. Apple?

The Verge reports that Spotify took offense to Apple’s new subscription bundle, which includes Apple Music. In the Verge report, Spotify said that Apple is muscling competitors out of the marketplace again. The company said that Apple is forcing users to stay within the Apple ecosystem.

Apple insists its new Apple One services bundle isn’t unfair to Spotify https://t.co/SRmSrXdrab pic.twitter.com/xgsKvAy70n

— The Verge (@verge) September 15, 2020

Moreover, Spotify called on the authorities to stop Apple from stomping out its competition.

Spotify’s Bundles

The Verge guesses that Apple users might stick with Apple One if they find that the bundle saves them money. As the world’s most valuable company, Apple has enough marketing muscle to push Apple One globally.

Spotify itself has come in bundles before. Hulu subscriptions offer Spotify for free. If you get an AT&T phone plan, you also get Spotify. And Spotify also comes bundled with some Samsung phones.  

Apple’s Response

In response, Apple stressed that they are not forcing users to pick up the Apple One bundle. The company said that users are still free to choose alternative services. If users are already using Apple services anyway, Apple One can unite them under a cheaper plan. Moreover, Android users can enjoy some Apple One services on their phones, and they can cancel whenever they want.

In terms of subscribers, Spotify remains king with 138 million, as of July. Meanwhile, Apple Music had just surpassed 60 million subscribers in June.

The post Spotify Rails Against Apple’s New Service Bundle first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Sam Arnold

It looks like Apple might dip its toes further into the subscription pool. Reports have surfaced that the company might be releasing its “Apple One” subscription bundle soon. With Apple One, users can access a group of Apple services at lower costs than buying them separately. 

Apple One Rumors

Gizmodo reports that Android users have found code referring to Apple One in the beta update for Apple Music for Android. According to the report, the code might mean that the company will cover Apple Music under Apple One. 

Rumored 'Apple One' services bundle could be launching soon https://t.co/DgwcNyTaDl pic.twitter.com/k1Zbt0tFb7

— Gizmodo (@Gizmodo) September 11, 2020

Moreover, the code also said that Apple wouldn’t charge users double for Apple Music and Apple One. If you have Apple Music but want to use Apple One, you can do so at no extra charge. But if you’re an Android user, you’ll have to switch to Apple if you want to subscribe to Apple One. 

Are the Rumors Confirmed?

In June, the website 9to5Mac found evidence of Apple One in the iOS 13.5.5 beta code. After checking the code, the report saw references to “bundle offers” and “bundle subscriptions.” Notably, these references weren’t in previous iOS versions. 

If Apple does launch Apple One, they could completely lock users into the Apple ecosystem. You could get every digital Apple service together at prices lower than the current $30 you pay if you buy them separately.

Bloomberg also reported that Apple could package Apple Music and Apple TV+ in a single plan. The company might also release a premium package that includes additional iCloud storage. 

When Will Apple One Come Out?

With all these reports, however, Apple has not confirmed Apple One. Gizmodo guesses that the company might launch the service by the end of the year.

The post Apple Might Launch “Apple One” Bundle Program Soon first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Irene Hawkins

It looks like Apple is stepping beyond hardware. Along with the new iPhones, Apple will release subscription bundles in the fall. The packages cover nearly every Apple service. 

The New Apple One

Gizmodo reports that Apple’s subscription bundles would be called Apple One. If you subscribe to Apple One, you’ll get a choice of tiers, starting from the Basic level, which includes Apple Music and Apple TV+. Once you go higher, you’ll also have Apple Arcade. Even higher than that, and you’ll have Apple News+, and then on the next tier, you’ll get extra iCloud storage space.

Moreover, Bloomberg also says that Apple might be including a virtual fitness service in Apple One. In the report, this subscription covers the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. Right now, the service goes by the codename “Seymour.”

So it looks like Apple is launching subscription bundleshttps://t.co/qm7w6eUJgm pic.twitter.com/LzAnJNjDdG

— Gizmodo (@Gizmodo) August 13, 2020

Apple’s Family Sharing Bundle

Similar to other subscription services, Apple will allow groups of users to enjoy Apple One. Apple already provides Family subscriptions to Apple Music, and now Apple One users can add six other members to their plan through Family Sharing.

With Family Sharing, users can save up to $5 a month, according to Bloomberg.

Apple’s Pivot to Services

In 2019, Apple had staged an event where it announced a series of new services, including the Apple Card, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and Apple News+. Also, 9to5Mac discovered code referring to a “bundle offer” or “bundle subscription” in iOS 13.5.5.

Bloomberg adds that Apple’s bundle services may extend to hardware. For example, if you buy an Apple TV, you could get a free year’s subscription to Apple Arcade.

With Apple One, the company seems to want to tie all of its services together under one package.

The post Apple to Roll Out Subscription Bundles first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Irene Hawkins