The Vergecast Sonos CEO discusses the Arc and customer backlash over leaving old products behind
May 6, 2020
Patrick Spence, the CEO of Sonos, shares insights on the launch of their game-changing Arc soundbar, which supports Dolby Atmos. He delves into the customer backlash over the 'Recycle Mode' and the sentiment around leaving older Sonos products behind. The conversation also covers the competitive landscape against giants like Amazon and Google, touching on the challenges smaller firms face in innovation. With an emphasis on sustainability and evolving consumer expectations, Spence highlights the balance between advanced technology and maintaining product durability.
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Increased Soundbar Demand
- Sonos saw a 32% increase in listening hours in March 2020, year over year.
- This increase jumped to 48% in April, largely due to increased video content consumption.
Voice Assistant Usage
- Voice assistants in living rooms haven't taken off as expected, with usage remaining consistent since launch.
- Primarily used for starting music, timers, alarms, and checking weather.
Sonos's Voice Assistant Strategy
- Sonos plans to develop its own voice assistant to complement, not compete with, Alexa and Google Assistant.
- This assistant will focus on enhancing music and entertainment experiences in the living room.