Sonos bets even more on the connected home
As published TheVergeSonos devices that already have a built-in microphone will receive a software update coming June 1 and will add the new Sonos Voice feature, a new voice assistant that will be offered as alternative to Google Assistant and Alexa. This new assistant would arrive just at a good time, as Sonos is expanding its brand towards services and distancing itself from large companies.
At the moment, Sonos has not confirmed anything at all, as they say, it is company policy not to comment on any kind of rumor or speculation. Much of the information you’ve gotten TheVerge comes from researching Sonos circles. And it is that the company has been publishing job offers related to “the Sonos voice experience” for months.
What will Sonos Voice offer?
We’ve already seen that Sonos is betting heavily on software and services. Sonos’ first goal with its new voice assistant is Privacy. The interaction between the user and Sonos Voice will be totally private, a way to differentiate itself from Alexa and Google Assistant.
Apparently, the assistant will be invoked with the words “Hey Sonos”, and you would not need to connect to the cloud to process the orders In the first instance. That is, if we use basic commandsSonos Voice will not require Internet access like Alexa does.
On the other hand, the assistant will work from the first day with the musical services of AppleMusic, Amazon Music, Pandora, Deezer and her own sonos radio. We imagine that Pandora will only be available in the United States, as is still usual. Spotify and YouTube Music, on the other hand, won’t be in attendance on launch day, though hopefully they’ll join the boat later on.
Apparently, Sonos Voice will co-exist with Alexa and Google Assistant on compatible devices, a very correct move by Sonos, as it is interesting for the adaptation process.
Available from June 1st
This new software will primarily reach Sonos customers who live in USA. Apparently, it will not be necessary to get a new Sonos equipment, as compatible devices will receive a OTA update the same day.
However, we do not know for sure the list of speakers that will be compatible with this new assistant. On the other hand, it is known that the deployment of Sonos Voice will be gradual. The update process will begin in the United States and will expand to the rest of the countries of the globe during the following weeks.
Just around that date the new one should also be launched. Sonos Raya sound bar that we do know will not be compatible with this new assistant, since it will not have microphones for voice control.
