E-commerce giant Amazon launched its new Echo Dot and Echo Plus smart speakers in India in early October. Amazon has now announced the launch of four new devices by Indian manufactures with Alexa built-in. The devices consist of portable headsets, smart speakers and set-top boxes. The brands are iBall, Sirena Technologies, boAt, and myBox, which have integrated Alexa in their devices. Let’s take a look at each of the upcoming devices.
Breath-M headphones from iBall:
Breath-M from iBall is a Bluetooth enabled over-ear headset. It features Alexa built-in and makes it convenient to access any information by giving users a hands-free experience. Users need to download the VerveLife App from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store to access Alexa on this device. The headphones are powered by a built-in rechargeable battery and feature a mic control to control calls and playback. The Breathe-M headphones cost Rs 2,225.
Vood Smart Speaker:
Manufactured by Sirena Technologies, the Vood smart speaker is touted as one of the world’s smallest portable speakers. The device is a WiFi 802.11ac and Bluetooth-enabled smart speaker and claims to offer a two-day battery life. This smart speaker is priced at Rs 2,699 and will be available from mid-November.
boAt Stone 700A smart speaker:
The boAt Stone 700A is a rugged shock resistant and waterproof smart speaker which makes it ideal for outdoor activities. The speaker features Alexa built-in capabilities and offers 8 hours of battery life. The device carries a price tag of Rs 7,999 but will be launched at an introductory price of Rs 4,000 on Amazon.
myBox Alexa Kit:
The myBox Alexa Kit for set-top boxes enables push-to-talk access to Alexa from the mic button on the TV set-top box remote. It allows the users to interact with the set-top box through voice commands. Users can also change channels, control voice or get EPG info. The myBox Alexa Kit is priced at Rs 1,999 on Amazon.
All four devices will be available beginning next month. enabling customers to ask questions, play music, control smart home devices and more, Amazon said in a statement. The manufacturers have integrated Alexa with Alexa Voice Service (AVS), which enables developers to integrate Alexa directly into their products and bring the convenience of voice control to any connected device.
Earlier Alexa-built in devices launched in India were iBall’s Decibel Bluetooth over-ear headset with a mic for Rs 1,799, and Motorola’s Pulse 3 and Pulse 3 Max headphones priced at Rs 1,599 and Rs 2,599 respectively. The Bose Home Speaker 500, Soundbar 500 and Soundbar 700 were also launched at Rs 39,000, Rs 59,000 and Rs 79,000 respectively.