Once a new software update arrives for Sonos devices next week, Audible audiobooks will no longer be supported on the platform. In an email to customers, Sonos has apologized for suspending support of the popular audiobook service, stating that Audible's current implementation wouldn't work with the new update Sonos is preparing to release. Sonos — which has only worked with downloaded Audible audiobooks — tried to integrate streaming audiobooks with Audible, but compatibility with the existing setup wasn't working properly, so support for the entire service has been pulled.
"This was a mistake. Removing functionality without having a replacement was never our intention."
"Knowing that our Audible integration was badly out-of-date, we made the decision to remove the existing service with the intention of replacing it with a better Audible experience at the same time. This was a mistake. Removing functionality without having a replacement was never our intention," Sonos wrote on its website. "Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to get Audible, as it currently stands, to work with many of the new improvements we’re bringing to your Sonos app. And since you’re part of our Sonos family, we just wanted to say we’re sorry."
Sonos says it will continue working with Audible to begin supporting the service once again in the near future. In a statement to The Verge, Sonos said "We are working together with the Audible team to not only bring the experience back as soon as possible but to also have it be the best one possible."