Flipkart, one of India’s largest e-commerce platforms announced it has tied up with Pocket FM to offer audiobooks via its site or mobile app, TOI reported. Right now, there are only a few audiobooks that are on offer, but the collection is expected to grow further in the coming months. The audiobooks are mostly in regional languages though a few English language audiobooks are also available.
However, you got to have the Pocket FM app installed on your mobile to listen to the audiobooks. Once you buy an audiobook from Flipkart, you will be mailed a unique code which you need to redeem on the Pocket FM app on your mobile. Once you have done that, you will now be able to listen to that audiobook. Flipkart does not offer any streaming service though, which means buyers won’t be able to listen to the audiobooks via the Flipkart website or its mobile app.
In any case, Flipkart’s move to get into the audiobook business makes a lot of sense. Its prime competitor, Amazon has been into it for years now and has a separate arm, Audible for offering exclusive audiobook services. However, unlike Flipkart, Amazon’s audiobook services, or for that matter, its entire book business is deeply entrenched in its retail segment. The company offers a complete end-to-end book reading or listening solution which includes a dedicated Kindle range of e-readers on one end and books, both in print and e-book form on the other.
For Flipkart, its audiobook business is similar to the way it sells other items on its site. It is like providing a platform for sellers to sell their stuff. Still, this would make for a win-win situation for all sides considering the huge popularity of audiobooks in the country. According to one estimate, those who listen to audiobooks in India stand at a credible 25 million.
Authors too stand to benefit immensely from the renewed exposure to audiobooks. The particular format gained immense popularity during the pandemic and has maintained its growth trajectory ever since. The deal with Flipkart will let Pocket FM have access to around 400 million Flipkart users right away.
With a keen interest in tech, I make it a point to keep myself updated on the latest developments in technology and gadgets. That includes smartphones or tablet devices but stretches to even AI and self-driven automobiles, the latter being my latest fad. Besides writing, I like watching videos, reading, listening to music, or experimenting with different recipes. The motion picture is another aspect that interests me a lot, and I'll likely make a film sometime in the future.
