Technology giant; Apple is no longer selling wireless speakers as well as headphones from rival brands which include Logitech International SA, Bose Corp, and Sonos Inc. The decision is seen as the company’s way of preparing the way for the launch of its own audio output products.
Apple which is based in Cupertino; California has in the past, sold hardware from third parties including rival brands on its website which is easily one of the largest e-commerce websites in the world.
Bloomberg revealed that all speakers from Logitech’s Ultimate Ears brand, Sonos’ newest smart speaker and speakers from Bose, were no longer available on Apple’s online store as at the end of September 2020.
Employees working at Apple’s physical stores have in recent days being told to remove all such products from rival brands. Immediately the news broke shares of rival company; Sonos dropped by as much as 7 percent in extended trading.
Bose Corporation confirmed reports that Apple no longer sells its products and accessories. Logitech’s Ultimate Ears revealed that it was informed by Apple that “they will no longer carry third-party speakers at retail from September onwards.” Sonos on the other hand, referred all comments to Apple.
The company in 2014, stopped selling wearables from Fitbit shortly after announcing the Apple Watch, stopped its selling of products by Bowers & Wilkins products a few years ago and removed all products by Bang & Olufsen from its Apple stores earlier on in 2020.
Bloomberg also revealed that Apple has been developing its very own range of audio output products with the first ever Apple branded over the ear headphones expected to be released as soon as this year.
It is developing a smaller variant of its already released HomePod smart speaker.
The technology company has cleared both its retail stores in preparation for the incoming new products.
Although Apple had temporarily stopped the sale of Bose products and accessories in its stores after the company sued the Apple owned Beats for alleged patent infringement, Apple has for a number of years sold products from Logitech and Bose. The court case with Bose settled swiftly.
The company first began the sale of Sonos products in 2016 with the Sonos speakers. It however discontinued doing that a number of years ago.
In January of 2020 it began selling the Sonos One SL speaker which is widely known for not having a digital voice assistant. In September of 2020 Apple decided to remove the product from its online store.
Apple stated that it makes regular changes to the line up of products and accessories that it sells from and for third parties, to meet the needs of customers as those needs change. It added that it’s Apple Stores will continue to sell a select group of third party products that will help its users get the best out of their Apple products.
As at Monday the only headphones and earphones available at Apple stores were the AirPods and AirPods Pro alongside the products from Apple’s Beats subsidiary.
As of Monday the 5th of October 2020, the only headphones offered by Apple according to Bloomberg are its very own AirPods and AirPods Pro, in addition to products from its Beats subsidiary.
In the smart speakers category only the Beats Pill+ speaker and the HomePod are available on Apple’s website.
Although the conference room speaker by Pioneer that allows users connect directly to their iPhones is a third party accessory still available on Apple’s website, it is not a product that competes with any of the company’s own offerings.
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