Amazon launches Alexa-powered Echo, Echo Plus and Echo Dot in India

Amazon has launched its Alexa-powered smart speakers range including Amazon Echo, Echo Plus, and Echo Dot in India. Currently, all these three smart speakers are available in India by invitation only and will start shipping in India later this month.

Amazon Echo, Echo Plus, and Echo Dot are powered by Amazon’s indigenous voice assistant Alexa. All the three devices are hands-free, voice-controlled device that uses Alexa voice service to play music, set alarms and timers, check your calendar, weather, and sports scores, manage to-do and shopping lists, control smart home devices, and more-instantly. These devices connect to speakers or headphones through Bluetooth or 3.5 mm stereo cable to play music from services like Amazon Prime Music, Saavn and TuneIn. They all include a built-in speaker so it can work on its own anywhere as a voice-controlled computer.

Amazon stated that the Alexa voice assistant has been customised for the Indian audience, which now supports local pronunciations and intonation. Also, third party developers in India are already building new, localized skills for Alexa, and over 10,000 skills will be available for customers in India, including skills from Saavn, Times of India, ESPNcricinfo, Ola, Freshmenu, and more.

Amazon Echo has been priced at INR 9,999, the Echo Dot at INR 4,499 and the Echo Plus at INR 14,999. The company is offering an introductory discount of 30% on the purchase price of Echo devices and along with one year of Prime membership. The devices will be available by invitation to customers in India at Amazon.in and will start shipping later this month.