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Alexa is moving to speakers beyond the Amazon Echo (AMZN)
Anker, a hardware accessory manufacturer, will introduce a new, Echo Dot-sized smart speaker with Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant built in.
Anker, a hardware accessory manufacturer, will introduce a new, Echo Dot-sized smart speaker with Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant built in, according to The Verge.
The new speaker, which will go on salefor $35, will give consumers a new way to add an Alexa-enabled speaker to their homes and is an early example of Amazon’s plan to move Alexa beyond just its own hardware.
Amazon is looking to make Alexa widely available to give consumers a wide variety of device options. It wants consumers to regularly use the voice assistant in their everyday lives, including for e-commerce, which will drive Amazon’s core business.
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- Alexa Voice Service
- Ecobee
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So far, 22% of Echo owners have used their devices to make a voice purchase, according toexclusive survey data from BI Intelligence. But BI Intelligence expects that voice payments will grow rapidly in the coming years, with 31% of US adults making voice payments by 2022. Amazon wants to ensure that it is able to secure a large share of that growing segment, and is creating opportunities for partners to provide the hardware that will let that happen.
A revolution in payments and banking is beginning as virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa gain the abilities of cashiers, personal shoppers, and bank tellers.
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