Pocket, the read-it-later service that lets you bookmark articles and videos from across the Web to read or watch later, is rolling out a new Premium service, costing $4.99/month or $44.99/year.
The subscription will get you access to what it calls a ‘Permanent Library’, a feature that automatically stores a copy of the articles and web pages you save, irrespective of what happens to the article on the Web. Though given it already more-or-less stores all your articles permanently, it’s not clear how appealing this feature will be in itself.
Moreover, the upgrade gives access to a new search facility that lets you sift through your archives by text, topics, tags, authors and more, while suggested tags based on the item’s content (as well as your previously used tags) should mean less manual spadework and more one-tap tagging.
It’s an interesting monetization move from Pocket. However, subscription fatigue is already growing among consumers, and one wonders whether $4.99/month for the available ‘extras’ here is perhaps a little on the ambitious side. A one-off ‘Premium’ upgrade? Sure. But a monthly financial commitment, well, the jury’s out on this one.
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Other tweaks introduced to the broader Pocket platform (i.e. not just Premium) today include redesigned browser extensions, and “simplified tag management” on iOS, Android and the Web.
Meanwhile, if you’re looking to get on board the Pocket Premium ship, you can do so here.
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