KEY POINTS

  • The iOS 13.5.5 code has references to bundle offers
  • This indicates that Apple is still considering offering bundled services for lower prices
  • It's unclear when Apple will release such bundled offers

Apple is still working on bundle offerings that will combine several services into a cheaper package, a report reveals.

According to 9To5Mac, the iOS 13.5.5 code provides references to a “bundle offer” and “bundle subscription” that were not included in a previous iOS build. These references indicate that Apple is still mulling offering consumers bundles that will give them a combination of the company's subscription services such as Apple Music and Apple TV+ and more.

Value for money

This is not the first time Apple is reported to be considering offering consumers a bundle of its services. Last year, Cupertino was reported to have planned on offering a “Super Bundle” that will combine an Apple Music and Apple TV+ subscription in one affordable package.

At the time, the bundle was expected to cost around $13 a month, which will give subscribers more savings as compared to when getting both subscriptions individually. 9To5Mac noted that getting a Family Sharing combination of Apple Music, Apple News+ and Apple TV+ will cost consumers a total of $30 per month. Apple Arcade isn't even included in that amount yet.

Apple Arcade
Ann Thai, senior product marketing manager of the App Store at Apple Inc., speaks during a company product launch event at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, March 25, 2019. Getty Images/Michael Short

By offering a combination of its services at lower prices, Apple will be able to get more people to subscribe to its offerings. Consumers, on the other hand, will not have to pay a lot of money each month to enjoy Cupertino's vast library of songs, growing collection of shows, and wide-ranging news reports. The company wasn't able to offer such a bundle last year, however.

Not coming yet

Apple might not be able to offer such a bundle soon despite the presence of references to it in iOS 13.5.5, 9To5Mac noted. Financial Times reported that Apple recently signed deals for Apple Music this year, but these do not include agreements to pair Apple Music with other Apple services in a bundle of sorts.

Apple Insider also noted that even if Apple does create a bundle, it's currently unclear what kind of services will be included in it. Cupertino currently has four content services including Apple Arcade. It also offers non-content service programs like Apple Care, which is meant for hardware. The company could offer a variety of bundles, but it's unclear what these will be at this point.