“Disappointing”: Sonos CEO says old, user-preferred app can’t be re-released

Enlarge / Sonos’ updated app was reportedly rushed out before the release of Sonos’ Ace headphones (pictured). (credit: Sonos)

Sonos’ new app was launched and reviewed so poorly that the company is expecting to spend $20 to $30 million on remediation. The Verge reported last week that high-level Sonos executives were considering relaunching the old app so users can have the functionality and stability that the update lacks. However, Sonos CEO Patrick Spence confirmed yesterday that the old app won’t be re-released.

In May, Sonos launched an updated companion app for controlling its devices that was maligned for a lack of features. With users being vocal about their disappointment to lose functionality, like local music library access, sleep timers, and accessibility features, and the app seemingly being rushed out prematurely, by July, Spence had apologized for the app and promised biweekly updates to fix the software’s problems.

Fixing the app and Sonos’ reputation has been critical for the Santa Barbara, California-headquartered company, leading Sonos to delay two hardware launches it had planned for its fiscal Q4. In more bad news for the firm, it said last week that it would be laying off 100 people.