Alexa … do you know the Queen?
The brain that powers the voice-activated Amazon Echo is about to get a whole lot busier.
According to an Amazon, Alexa now has more than 3,000 skills at her disposal, which represents a significant increase from the 135 or so she had back in January. The latest update now includes skills from the Food Network, GE Appliances, Bloomberg, Twitter, Kayak and Yahoo Sports Fantasy Football—all of which will be available by the end of September.
Over the last few months, Alexa has extended her reach way beyond just being an always-listening personal assistant, with thousands of developers building a variety of voice-activated “skills” (the Alexa version of apps).
“We’re thrilled to announce that developers have launched over 3,000 skills on Alexa-enabled devices such as the Amazon Echo and Echo Dot,” said Amazon Alexa’s vice president Steve Rabuchin. “When we launched the Alexa Skills Kit over a year ago, our goal was to enable developers to build compelling voice experiences for Alexa customers. The response from both developers and customers has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re excited for what’s ahead.”
The Amazon Echo has quickly become more than a cult device, thanks in part to the adaptability of the Alexa Voice Service and the—relative—simplicity of skill building. Amazon estimates that a basic skill can be built in around 60 minutes and no prior experience is required.
Alexa Is Going On A European Tour
Up until now, Alexa has been speaking to Amazon customers in the United States.
That is about change.
Amazon said that the Amazon Echo and the smaller Echo Dot are now available in the United Kingdom and Germany and will begin shipping in a few weeks. Both devices now come in two colors—black and white—and the Echo Dot can be ordered in packs of six or 12.
“Millions across the US have already fallen in love with Alexa,” said Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, in a press release. “And, predictably, she’s even more likable with a British accent. We’re delighted to be bringing Echo and Alexa to the UK.”
The decision to offer multiple packs of the Echo Dot may seem strange, but there is a method to the madness. Amazon wants people to have Alexa in every room in the house, which also explains why American customers are being offered an upgraded version of the device for less than $50 as opposed to the previous price of $90.
Multiple device ownership obviously means that Alexa can be accessed from almost anywhere. To prevent the different devices all hearing the same command and responding, all Echo devices will have what Amazon refers to as ESP—Echo Spatial Perception. The new feature will combat the problem of all the devices speaking at the same time and will be available as an upgrade for existing device owners very soon, said Amazon.
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