New research has highlighted that smart speakers in the home like Google Home and Amazon Echo are set to drive the next wave of eCommerce. A nationally-representative survey of 2,000 British adults commissioned by Artefact UK, an AI and data-driven agency, reveals six out of ten smart speaker owners (60%) have used them to make […]
Apple and Amazon announced their second partnership in November: the iPhone maker’s music-streaming service is coming to Amazon’s Echo devices this month. The move gets Apple Music onto the most-popular voice-controlled speakers, giving it distribution beyond Apple’s own devices. Subscribers will be able to control Apple Music with Amazon’s Alexa digital assistant, the first time Apple has […]
According to a major new consumer survey, the most popular smart speaker model in the US is the Amazon Echo, which accounts for 23% of all smart speakers in use. Including all its models, Amazon accounts for 63% of smart speakers in use, while Google accounts for 17% and Apple 4%. These findings have been […]
Troy-Bilt and its agency of record, Marcus Thomas, launched a new campaign titled “Ask Troy,” which demonstrates the brand’s commitment to solving problems for homeowners and adding value throughout their journey in the yard. The campaign includes weather-triggered digital ads on Weather.com developed through a partnership with IBM/Watson, and the “Ask Troy-Bilt” Alexa skill on […]
9.2m smart speakers were shipped in Q1 2018, with Amazon continuing to lead the way ahead of Google despite having its market share nearly halved. According to Strategy Analytics, Amazon shipped an estimated 4m Echo devices in the first quarter of the year, up from the 2m it sold for the same period in 2017. […]
Lego has launched a new interactive skill on Amazon Alexa called Lego Duplo Stories, an experience that combines storytelling with the brick toys. The skill is available on devices that support Alexa, like the Amazon Echo or Echo Dot, and gives parents and kids a selection of stories with audio prompts that guide physical play. […]
Virgin Trains have today become the first travel operator in the world to sell tickets through Amazon Alexa, with customers now able to book Advance Single tickets using just their voice. The innovative collaboration will enable rail travellers to sort their tickers with one simple voice-based transaction via an Alexa-enabled Amazon device, including Amazon Echo, […]
Amazon has unveiled the Echo Dot Kids Edition with a custom version of Alexa that will read to kids, play music, answer questions and do other chores. It uses a new flavor of its FreeTime app called FreeTime for Alexa that includes parent controls and family-friendly features that run on the Echo, Echo Dot or […]
Netflix is promoting its “Lost in Space” reboot with a new interactive audio adventure on Google’s smart speakers: The “Lost in Space” audio game encourages participants to help key characters of the show after their spaceship crash-lands on an unknown planet. The audio adventure, which lasts between 5 and 6 minutes, features a branched narrative […]
Armed with the ability to target ads to voice-activated devices, more than two-thirds (68%) of advertisers plan to create ads specifically for these gadgets in the coming year. A survey of 232 UK media agency and brand-side executives by MTM has found that 79% of advertisers and agencies believe reaching audiences through voice-activated devices in […]