Sonos has stated that it will offer a speaker rental service, which Sonos named Flex. The Flex service is currently only available to consumers in the Netherlands, and Sonos has not currently indicated that it has any plans to expand the program.
The speaker rental service has three different options. The first of which is titled "For Every Room," and it offers two Sonos speakers for a price of $16 a month, the second option is titled "For Your TV" and it provides a Sonos Beam soundbar and two Sonos One speakers for $27 a month, lastly the "For Home Theater" option comes with a Sonos Play bar, a subwoofer as well as two Sonos One Speakers for a $55 monthly charge. The "For Home Theater" package also has an installation fee.
High Performance Speaker Rentals
Sonos Has Launched a Speaker Rental Service Titled Flex
Trend Themes
1. Speaker Rental Services - Speakers-as-a-service is a growing trend capitalizing on consumers' desire for versatile, high-quality audio.
2. Subscription-based Home Audio - Offering modular home audio setups as monthly subscriptions is a disruptive innovation opening up new markets for audio professionals.
3. Smart Speaker Ecosystems - The Sonos Flex program is indicative of the wider trend of consumers looking for compatible smart speaker ecosystems to enhance their listening experiences.
Industry Implications
1. Audio Equipment Rental - Audio equipment rental companies have an opportunity to innovate by offering subscription-based high-performance speaker rentals for the home.
2. Home Audio Retail - Retailers specializing in home audio and other home electronics could benefit from expanding their product offerings to include modular speaker rental and subscription services.
3. Smart Speaker Companies - Companies specializing in smart speaker technologies can expand their offerings beyond traditional retail and further develop speaker rental and subscription-based models.