Amazon Audible: Complete Overview

Amazon Audible is a popular audiobook and podcast service that offers a wide range of audio content to its users. The service is owned by Amazon and has been around since 1995. In this article, we will explore the history of Amazon Audible, its features, and how it compares to other audiobook services.

History of Amazon Audible

Amazon Audible was founded in 1995 by Don Katz. The company was initially called Audible Inc. and was based in Wayne, New Jersey. The company’s first product was a handheld device called the Audible MobilePlayer, which was designed to play audiobooks. The device was released in 1997 and was the first of its kind.

In 2000, Audible launched its first subscription service, which allowed users to download audiobooks for a monthly fee. The service was an instant success and helped to establish Audible as a major player in the audiobook industry.

In 2008, Amazon acquired Audible for $300 million. The acquisition helped Amazon to expand its reach in the audiobook market and gave Audible access to Amazon’s vast customer base.

Features of Amazon Audible

Amazon Audible offers a wide range of features to its users. The service has a vast library of audiobooks, podcasts, and other audio content. Users can download the content to their devices and listen to it offline. The service also offers a feature called Whispersync, which allows users to switch between reading an ebook and listening to an audiobook seamlessly.

Audible also offers a subscription service called Audible Plus, which gives users access to a vast library of audiobooks, podcasts, and other audio content. The service costs $7.95 per month and includes one credit per month, which can be used to purchase any audiobook from the library.

Another feature of Audible is the ability to share audiobooks with friends and family. Users can send a free audiobook to anyone they want, even if the recipient is not an Audible member.

Comparison with other audiobook services

Amazon Audible is not the only audiobook service available to users. There are several other services that offer similar features and content. Some of the most popular audiobook services include Apple Books, Google Play Books, and Scribd.

Apple Books is a popular audiobook service that is available on all Apple devices. The service has a vast library of audiobooks and offers a feature called Book Store, which allows users to purchase ebooks and audiobooks directly from the app.

Google Play Books is another popular audiobook service that is available on Android devices. The service has a vast library of audiobooks and offers a feature called Family Library, which allows users to share their audiobooks with up to five family members.

Scribd is a subscription service that offers a wide range of content, including audiobooks, ebooks, and magazines. The service costs $9.99 per month and includes unlimited access to all of its content.

Conclusion

Amazon Audible is a popular audiobook and podcast service that offers a wide range of audio content to its users. The service has a vast library of audiobooks, podcasts, and other audio content. Users can download the content to their devices and listen to it offline. The service also offers a subscription service called Audible Plus, which gives users access to a vast library of audiobooks, podcasts, and other audio content. While there are several other audiobook services available to users, Amazon Audible remains one of the most popular and widely used services in the industry.