Amazon’s Echo May Be the Next Big Thing after the Smartphone

Many tech experts believe that Amazon’s voice-recognition-based gizmo called Echo may soon become the next great thing after the smartphone. Experts based their assumption on its rapid rise in popularity, the gadget being now one of the most sold-out items on the e-commerce giant’s site.

Analysts expect the tiny voice-controlled household machine to surpass smartwatches and fitness trackers in popularity as people become more accustomed with it in their homes. Plus, the gadget is extremely versatile and it can be constantly improved with new functionality.

Many people now use the system to keep a shopping list, play music, search for a specific piece of info on the Internet, or just read the news. But these tasks can also be performed with a smartphone. So, what’s so different about Echo?

Well, Echo has an integrated vocal assistant called Alexa which looks more promising than Google Now and Apple’s Siri. You can order a Uber ride via Alexa, add new items on the shopping list, or perform simple tasks as reordering popcorn with a single voice command.

Plus, Echo’s Alexa has the potential of unknowingly sneaking into our daily routines in the intimacy of our homes like no other device can.

Though the company declined to provide some sales numbers, the reviews on the site helped us get a clearer picture on the potential of the new gizmo. Plus, Amazon is pouring big money to improve and promote the tech.

Additionally, two new versions of the machine are on their way: a portable model and a model that can be coupled with existing speaker systems. Rumors have it that Amazon plans to make Echo a $1 billion business.

Scot Wingo of the ChannelAdvisor noted that rarely Amazon is out of something so often as Echo. The system is listed for a couple of weeks, but it gets sold out for a few days, which suggests that the demand for the gizmo is sometimes outpacing the rate at which Amazon can refill its stocks.

Furthermore, while the machine is sold for $180 on its producer’s site, it is sometimes sold for as much as $300 on eBay.

Echo became more popular than other competing devices because it is more intuitive than other alternatives on the market. Plus, it seems to gain increased functionality day by day. Amazon’s engineers have been striving to make a perfect device for years., and that effort now seems to be paying off.

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