Spotify to Integrate Voice With In-Car Streaming Service

In a move highlighting the importance of voice control in cars, Spotify has pulled Car View, a feature that included a simplified interface for in-car use, and will soon roll out a smart player. In the meantime, a moderator on Spotify’s community forum suggested that users turn to Google Assistant for hands-free control.

In a post on Spotify’s community forum, a moderator confirmed that Car View had been retired and said the company is working on new innovations to replace it.

“This however doesn’t mean we don’t want to improve on how our users listen to Spotify while driving,” the moderator wrote in a post cited by Gizmodo with a hat tip to Android Police, which had spotted it earlier. “On the contrary, we’re actively exploring a variety of new ways to deliver the best in-car listening experience.”

A Move to Voice Control 

Some commentators replying to the post on Spotify’s community forum speculated that the move was an attempt to promote the company’s Car Thing, a smart player that includes voice control, Gizmodo noted. Car Thing is not yet available; it’s on pre-order, according to the report.

In an article posted Friday (Nov. 26), The Verge reported that Car View was still working on an iPhone, but not on an Android device. On the latter, the app’s Car section displayed a button for setting up Car Thing and a note saying, “always pay full attention to the road and abide with all traffic regulations,” according to the report.

In the post on the Spotify community forum, the moderator suggested that users turn to Google’s voice assistant while Spotify works on a new solution.

“While we work backstage on improving the experience, one alternative would be to listen hands-free via Google Assistant,” the moderator wrote. “This feature also works with Google Maps so you can navigate while listening to Spotify. In order to do that, you can link your accounts and say ‘Hey Google, play Spotify.’”

Focusing on What’s Important 

This points to the importance of voice control inside the car, allowing hands-free operation of audio streaming as well as other functions for reasons of safety and convenience. On the web page promoting its Car Thing device, Spotify notes that, “Voice control lets you focus on what’s important.”

Musical entertainment is the second most popular feature U.S. consumers want to be able to control with their voice while in a vehicle, according to a blog post on Amazon’s website for developers. It’s second only to navigation and it’s important for safety, the post adds.

“Voice technology shines in environments where you are occupied with other tasks,” the post on the Amazon site says, later adding, “Voice can strip away complexity, minimize distractions, and make your drive more connected, productive and entertaining.”