Spotify is testing new functionality. The platform is working on an educational video format

Spotify in the UK has launched educational video functionality in a test format. According to the company's press release, about half of their premium users listen to educational or thematic podcasts, so they decided to try to expand this functionality.

Currently, the new content category is available in both the mobile and desktop applications, but only for users from the United Kingdom. There are currently four categories of content available: music making, creativity, business courses, and healthy lifestyle.

The content is distributed on a freemium model - the first two video lessons will be available for free, and you will need to pay to access the full course. Perhaps in the future, Spotify will introduce a separate subscription or so-called "Super Premium". Video lessons can also be listened to with the screen turned off as a podcast. Course authors will be able to attach additional content, such as pdf files.

Interestingly, Spotify bypasses the built-in payment systems of Apple and Google on mobile platforms. This is due to the high commission when using their payment systems. On Android, a button is used that sends an email with a link to pay for video lessons, while on iOS, the agreement prohibits the use of links to third-party payment services, so the user has to guess to find the payment address courses.spotify.com/home.

Source: The Verge