Apple TV+ may come to Android (but we’ve heard this before)

There are times when rivalry ceases to make business sense, and not introducing an Apple TV+ app for Android devices is one of those times. Not only does it dramatically reduce the potential audience for some of the finest drama to come out of streaming services today, but it also adds a layer of user inconvenience that makes little sense.

Things may be about to change

Pinch me if you’ve heard this rumor before, but here we go:

Apple’s recruitment website carries a post searching for an Android Software Engineer to “help build an application used by millions to watch and discover TV and sports”. The pay’s not too shabby, somewhere between $131k and $243k, plus plenty of benefits.

What’s puzzling is why it has taken so long to get here. After all, TV+ is already available as an app on numerous third party TV sets that run on the TV version of Android, so some of the work to bring the streaming service to Android devices must surely already have been done?

It won’t necessarily happen fast

Getting there will take time.

The fact that Apple is recruiting at this time suggests plenty of work ahead before an Android Apple TV+ app actually ships. But even if getting there does take time, it will be great for the TV service, given how many people are talking about some of the fantastic shows it offers.

It also goes some way toward placating critics of Apple’s walled garden approach to business – and also hints at other opportunities the company may want to explore.

One step beyond

Even App Stores – consumers on Apple devices really seem to like the curated App Store model – but now the company has been forced to open up to third party stores in Europe, why not become a third party store in its own account? Why should the heavily protected and curated App Store experience be Apple only, when the user experiences the company offers everywhere else across its devices are part of what gives it success? Would making use of a nice Apple app store for Android devices help tempt Android users to switch for more of the same?

Probably…

It is of course incredibly unlikely Apple will offer an App Store for Android devices, of course, but if it did it would probably be the best Android store in the world. But while we wait you may eventually be able to enjoy Apple TV shows on Android devices. One day.

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