Audible introduced one of the first digital audio players in 1997. The following year it published a Web site from which audio files in its proprietary .aa format could be downloaded. Audible holds a number of patents in this area.
In 2000 Audible licensed the ACELP codec for its level 3 quality downloads.
In 2003, Audible made an exclusive deal with Apple to provide their catalog of books on the iTunes Music Store. Books purchased on iTunes have a .m4b extension (a variation on MP4), and contain AAC audio covered by Apple's FairPlay Digital Rights Management.
Founder of Audible, Don Katz, gave a talk on May 9, 2005 that is recorded on IT Conversations about the early history of Audible. There is a brief profile of Katz in AudioFile magazine. Katz gave a Keynote address at the Podcast Expo on November 12, 2005. He was also featured in the March 2006 issue of Business 2.0.
In 2005, Audible launched Audible Air, software that makes it possible to download (copy-controlled) audio books over the air - wirelessly and directly to devices such as a smartphone or PDA. This eliminates the need to download copy-controlled audio books first to a computer and then transfer it to Palm OS, Windows Mobile, and Symbian Mobile devices. Audible Air content updates automatically, chapters download as required and delete themselves after they have been listened to.
In April 2008, Audible began producing exclusive science fiction and fantasy audiobooks under its "Audible Frontiers" imprint. At launch 30 titles were released.
The company also launched Audible Education. The service offers lectures, study guides, skill builders, teaching aids, and test preparation resources, across a wide range of subject areas.