Amazon is planning to further expand the reach of Alexa in the households of its customers, with eight new devices powered by the digital assistant coming out this year.
Alexa now works with over 20,000 devices, increasing fivefold from 4,000 devices at the end of 2017. That number will continue to grow, as Alexa further proves itself as arguably the best digital assistant in the market.
Eight New Amazon Alexa Devices
Amazon will release at least eight new Alexa-powered products before the year ends, according to an exclusive report by CNBC.
The upcoming voice-controlled hardware include a microwave oven, a receiver, a subwoofer, an amplifier, and an in-car device, according to sources familiar with the matter. In addition to all the devices being Alexa-enabled to easily connect with the digital assistant, some of them will even have Alexa built in.
Some of the devices are expected to be unveiled at an event that will be held this September, according to an internal document acquired by CNBC.
It remains unclear, however, if any of these new Alexa devices will carry the Echo brand. The Amazon Echo line has mostly focused on the home audio, so it may be possible that Amazon will focus on widening Alexa branding or launch an entirely new brand for the Alexa-powered hardware.
Amazon Alexa Expands To More Places
The Amazon Echo speakers, while very smart with Alexa, could do better in terms of audio quality. The Alexa-powered receiver, subwoofer, and amplifier will introduce high-end components that may attract power audio enthusiasts.
More importantly, the upcoming Alexa-powered devices highlight Amazon's plans to increase the number of places where its digital assistant is present. The devices mark the company's initial entry into home appliances, which will place Amazon in competition with manufacturers that have integrated Alexa into their internet-connected products. Examples of instant rivals include Sonos, which already launched an amplifier and subwoofer that work with Alexa, and GE, which currently offers a smart microwave that may be connected to the digital assistant.
Amazon has been busy in making Alexa more accessible. Last month, the company launched a toolkit named Alexa Auto, which will make it easier for developers to integrate the digital assistant into car infotainment systems. The partnership between Amazon Alexa and Microsoft Cortana also finally went online, a year after the team-up was announced, leading to Microsoft enabling Xbox One voice commands through either of the digital assistants through the Xbox Skill.
