Amazon is preparing to launch Audible in India within the next three to four months, with its employees in the country already testing the service internally, per a report. At the moment, the library only contains a selection of top sellers and classics, as the company is still working on building up its offering for the country.
Amazon acquired Audible back in 2008 for a sum of $300 million, and since then have expanded the service into several regions worldwide, often complimenting its Kindle line of products and services.
In the U.S., the company offers Audible as a standalone subscription starting at $14.95 (₹970) per month, with a limited selection of audiobooks bundled in the $9.99/mo Kindle Unlimited subscription. In India, the Kindle Unlimited subscription is offered at ₹150 ($2) per month; Audible may be offered at a similarly cheaper price in the country if Amazon chooses to introduce it as a standalone subscription.
Amazon could also bundle Audible with Prime to expose it to a wider audience, as the country has emerged to be the fastest growing market for the subscription service. However, a Prime subscription in India costs ₹999 ($15) annually – a steep cut, when compared to the $99 (₹6433) annual price in the U.S.
Amazon’s international business cost the company a loss of close to $1 billion in the past quarter, with company CFO Brian T Olsavsky putting it down to “international expansion and primarily in India.” Amazon India is currently in the midst of shipping its newly-launched Echo devices, as it prepares to launch Prime Music in the country.
Source: The Times of India
