Amazon Unveils Echo Show Capable of Video Calling
10 May 2017 - 6:20AM
Dow Jones News
By Laura Stevens
Amazon.com Inc. on Tuesday unveiled a new Echo speaker with a
screen that will incorporate video-calling capabilities, keeping
the online retailer one step ahead of technology rivals in seeking
to control smart homes.
The Echo Show announcement, which confirmed a Wall Street
Journal article on Monday, also allows users to make internet-based
calls between devices and apps to start, setting the speaker up to
be core to a home's communications.
Equipped with a 7-inch touch screen, the device will be able to
visually summon answers to verbal questions, providing information
like e-commerce search results in a more digestible fashion.
The new Echo, which has been in beta testing with employees for
a few months, starts shipping to consumers on June 28.
The new device will be priced at $229.99. The current Echo
speaker, which doesn't have a screen, usually sells for $179.99,
although it is currently on sale for $149.99.
Amazon is in a broader race with a number of tech giants to
create and install speakers using digital assistants to eventually
run homes, cars and offices. Alphabet Inc.'s Google Home is the
biggest competitor so far to Amazon and its Alexa digital
assistant.
Write to Laura Stevens at laura.stevens@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 09, 2017 16:05 ET (20:05 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2017 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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