Google has announced to shut down its podcast listening and search app. Launched about three years ago, the Google Listen was like a large podcasts directory for avid users to search, download and listen to the podcasts. Made available as an app on the Android platform, Google has decided to axe this podcast service.
Google Listen app was a podcast search directory with download and listen support. Users could browse and search through the directory for the podcasts. However, the app will be discontinued and the service will be shutdown.
Folks who have the Google Listen installed on their device can continue to use it and listen to the podcasts. However, they won’t be able to use the podcast search feature. The Google Play Store will not offer Google Listen app but will continue to support offering various podcast apps.
This is a bit surprising move by Google for its rival in similar sense – Apple had recently made the Podcasts app available in the end of June. Meanwhile, Google is shutting down the Listen service and discontinuing the app.