Amazon is betting that it will hit a home run with its new wireless earbuds. The new Echo Buds are smaller, cheaper and have better noise cancellation than the previous model — and they’re on sale, for now.
Announcing the redesigned Echo Buds in a Wednesday (April 14) press release, the Seattle-based company said the product would deliver “premium audio architecture for crisp, balanced sound, custom-designed Active Noise Cancellation technology, wireless charging capabilities (with a wireless charging case), improved microphones for better call quality, and hands-free access to Alexa.”
Amazon said its new Echo Buds can block twice as much background noise as the first model, “making them ideal for traveling” or finding peace and quiet at home. Amazon’s pitch: “The premium speakers are optimized for increased fidelity in bass and treble, which reduces distortion during media playback.”
The company said in its release that the new Echo Buds start at $119.99 but will be available, “for a limited time,” for $99.99. Amazon added that “qualifying customers will receive six months free of Amazon Music Unlimited and Audible Plus.” Echo Buds feature three microphones.
Amazon’s more expensive earbuds are called AirPods Pro.
“The all-new Echo Buds are better in so many ways,” said Amazon Alexa senior Vice President Tom Taylor. “It’s never been easier for customers to bring Alexa with them throughout their day — whether at home, walking in the neighborhood, or commuting to work, all they have to do is ask to play music or podcasts,” or to make a call.
Voice commerce is set to boom as devices such as Alexa become more popular. Of course the future for voice commerce will depend on artificial intelligence (AI). The promise of voice commerce is that AI will keep making more data available, so that it can become more conversational.
Even a current voice commerce app from Sephora can ask a shopper about skin tone before recommending a purchase for makeup. That’s a feature small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), such as retailers, can take advantage of.
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