The Spotify software logo as seen on an Apple smartphone. (Photo : Reuters)
As rumors on Google's Nexus 2016 release date plans have yet to specify the device makers that will be responsible for the next Nexus hardware, Android fans can't help but to speculate too on the killer features that the flagship smartphones and tablets will unbox. A new report suggests that Spotify could be part of the package.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Spotify has decided to migrate to Google Cloud Platform following years of partnership with Amazon Web Services. The shift will see Spotify's crucial data in running its global music streaming service moving from Amazon to Google's storage facilities. Spotify said that it was lured by Google's superior data analytic capabilities that could add expand on the former's value-added services.
"That's where Google has the edge and that's where we think they will continue to have the edge," The Journal reported Spotify as saying.
Analysts viewed the deal as "a great win for Google," but what could prove as an even more exciting prospect is Spotify becoming part of Google's family of products and services. The development, according to The Verge, triggered renewed speculations that the Nexus maker is eventually planning to acquire Spotify, which counts around 75 million active subscribers worldwide and 20 million of which are Premium or paying members.
As mentioned, such rumors are nothing new as the report noted that Google had originally courted Spotify in 2014 but talks reportedly bogged down due to pricing matters.
And if indeed a takeover by Google will be finalized soon, the move makes sense for the Internet search giant as the acquisition should give the company a boost against chief rival Apple as its Apple Music has already reached 10 million members and counting.
A deal with Spotify will give another solid visibility platform for Google as the free Spotify app, both in Android and Windows operating systems, relies heavily on advertisements to generate revenues.
But really the big winner of the rumored Google-Spotify deal are Android users, who likely will benefit from a resulting move by Google to provide the music streaming service as a default component of the sequel to Android 6.xx Marshmallow, rumored to be Android N or version 7.0.
Another possibility is Spotify Premium, which gives users unlimited access to the streaming service, coming preloaded with the Google Nexus 2016 devices, the release date of which are not expected to happen until the second half of 2016.
