Audible finally returns to Sonos, letting people listen to books on their smart speakers

People will get more free books than usual if they sign up using their speaker

(Sonos)

Audible has finally returned to Sonos, years after it was removed and weeks after the tie-up was accidentally announced.

The new release means that Sonos owners can finally listen to audiobooks through the Amazon-owned service.

Such a development is unlikely to be a surprise: two weeks ago, Sonos seemed to accidentally publish a blog post about the integration being available. And the two companies previously worked together until Audible support was pulled some years ago.

But it fixes one of the most glaring missing services on the Sonos platform, which supports nearly every other audio provider including music streaming services and radio subscriptions.

The two companies announced the tie-up in a blog post in which they said the feature is available now.

"It’s rare to block out your unending to-do list and take a minute to just relax with a good book," Sonos wrote in a blog post. "But if time is a luxury, then so is reading. We think there’s something wrong with that, which is why we’re excited to announce that Audible is now available on Sonos.

"With Audible on your home sound system, you can easily make books an everyday source of enjoyment for yourself and the whole family. Become a master multitasker and listen to audiobooks while you cook, do laundry, take a bath or work out. Start a story while the kids get into their pajamas and brush their teeth, so they’re already sleepy by the time they climb into bed."

The new release isn't the first time that Audible has been available on Sonos speakers, and it is actually a return rather than an entirely new addition. In 2015, Audible was removed from the service apparently for technical reasons.

To tempt people to listen to their books, customers will get extra free credits if they sign up to Audible using the Sonos app. Customers will receive two free credits on Audible rather than the usual one, and will also get access to Miles Davis's autobiography for free.