Apple has decided to discontinue its Siri-only voice offering for Apple Music users, just two years after its launch.
This plan, which was announced in October 2021, allowed users to access Apple Music solely through voice commands from Siri.
However, it seems that the plan failed to gain traction, possibly due to the lack of interest in paying the additional $5 (₹413 approx.) monthly fee.
To inform subscribers, Apple has created a support page outlining the changes and providing instructions for continuing to use Apple Music after November.
Existing subscribers of the voice plan will be able to continue using it until their subscription ends.
However, once it expires, they will need to switch to regular Apple Music plans and pay the corresponding fees.
Apple's decision to discontinue the Siri-only voice plan stems from a desire to focus on other Apple Music features, such as spatial audio, karaoke with lyrics, and discovery.
The company aims to integrate Siri as a universal part of all Apple Music plans moving forward and promises to enhance the user experience in the future.
The Apple Music Voice plan allowed users to effortlessly access music, playlists, and albums on Apple Music through voice commands.
However, it lacked popular features like lossless audio quality and offline listening support, which may have contributed to its downfall, especially given the $5 monthly charge.
It's worth noting that the voice plan was available only in select markets, such as the United States.
Users in India, for example, were never given the opportunity to try it, and now it appears they never will.
Although the discontinuation of the Siri-only voice plan may seem like a setback, Apple has little reason to worry.
The company continues to rake in billions from iPhone sales, and India is emerging as a key driver of its overall growth, thanks to strong demand for older iPhone models.