Recently Amazon announced the launching of its audiobook service Audible in India. The subscription-based service that has been much awaited in the country is the second to be launched by the online retail behemoth after it launched Prime.
The Audible subscription is expected to complement the Kindle subscription services that Amazon already offers in India. Currently Amazon will offer Audible in a 30-day trial pack for all users, which will be extended to 90 days for Prime members. Following the lapse of the trial period the service will be available for an amount of Rs 199 per month. Audible will also be made available in one month, six months and twelve months membership packages at the introductory prices of Rs 299, Rs 1,345 and Rs 2,332 respectively.
Audible, which sells radio and TV programs as well as audio versions of books, magazines and newspapers was acquired by Amazon in 2008 for $300 million. Audiobooks once downloaded remain in the book catalogue or the Audible library irrespective of time limit or whether a subscription is cancelled post downloading the book. Amazon Audible audiobook service is at present at its beta stage and therefore no Amazon Pay or UPI payment options are available yet. But it is expected that when the final rollout happens, which is anticipated to be soon, such payment options will be made available. According to Live Mint, some of the most notable titles present in the Audible are Victorian Secrets by John Woolf, Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan, Harry Potter series by JK Rowling and This Could Hurt by Jillian Medoff.
Incidentally, the launching of Amazon Audible in India is the latest step by the company to expand its footprint in the country. It is a service that can read a book aloud to listeners. Books are read by such renowned narrators like Jim Dale, Jeremy Irons and Stephen Fry. As Amazon Echo is integrated in Audible, Alexa can also be asked to read a book aloud.
