Amazon is all set to bring Echo, its voice-based speaker to India. According to a report published in FactorDaily website, Amazon plans to bring the device out of its home market and introduce the smart speaker to the Indian market in the second half of the current year.
The device, Amazon Echo, is Artificial-Intelligence enabled, powered by the voice assistant named Alexa. It can also perform as a home automation device.
With the introduction of Echo, Indians can instruct Echo for their daily dose of news and also for operation several home appliances.
Amazon’s Echo, powered by the Artificial Intelligence system, Alexa, and was first launched in the year 2014. Since its first launch, the device has been made available to the Indian consumers who had to import the product, and the functionalities of the device were also limited. Launching the product in India will free the customers from such limitations.
However, there has not been any confirmation from the company regarding its possible launch in the Indian market this year since it is against the policy of the company to reveal anything they may or may not execute in the future.
The wireless smart speaker is controlled by the operator’s voice, and its ability includes requesting for a cab ride, ordering foods online, playing music tracks, reading the important headlines of the daily news and much more. Alongside performing home tasks, the gadget can even deliver traffic data, play regional songs. The smart speaker costs $179, or Rs. 12,000 in India.
After the launch of Amazon Echo in the global market, other technology companies like Google, Lenovo also came up with smart voice-activated speakers for home applications. The examples are Lenovo Smart Assistant or Google Home.
In India, not many people are acquainted with the concept of Internet of Things, and it may take some time for the people to get used to the functions and operations of Amazon Echo. It may feel like a misfit in the first stage with its uses limited to playing favorite music tracks or controlling the lights of the house. If we bring in the comparison, the houses of US are becoming smarter rapidly than Indian homes. Amazon’s Echo has capabilities much more than playing music and ordering foods online. It can turn off the stove following the voice commands and can even make sure whether the doors has been locked.
Amazon has successfully gained an appreciable foothold in India by launching Amazon India, the e-commerce platform. The company now intends to expand its business in the profitable market of India by introducing products that have earned good reviews all over the world.
Last year Amazon introduced in India the Prime Delivery Service – a paid service which allows the customers to have same-day delivery, and other membership benefits. Prime Video, a competitor of online TV sites like Hotstar and Netflix, was also introduced in India. Amazon Prime Video subscription is one of the most affordable services in the country with the subscription charge starting from Rs. 50 per month.
Amazon is eyeing for a success of the product in India. Amazon Echo is designed for home applications and can assist the consumers in their regular tasks.
