Smart Speakers Postponed for US

Facebook to make its smart speakers available in certain international markets before making them available in the US.

14:25 05 June 2018

A recent report claims that Facebook is considering launching its long-rumoured smart speakers outside the United States. Prior to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, the company has planned to unveil and specify a US release date for its two devices.

 

The social media giant is yet to identify the initial launch markets with experts saying that it is probably hoping that concerns over its data privacy practice in its home country wane.

 

However, Facebook risks losing out on the smart speaker industry as Amazon’s and Google’s devices have already been available in the US for a couple of years now. This has allowed them to grow their user bases ahead of their competitors, including Apple. Based on official figures, Amazon is currently in the lead with more than 52per cent of the US smart speaker market while Google controls 32per cent.

 

Further delay in launching the Facebook’s devices in the US will give its competitor more opportunity to make their platforms stickier for consumers, developers and businesses that are already using them. By the time Facebook decides to join the industry, it might be too late for it to convince consumer to switch platforms.