Google Home smart speaker gets UK launch date
Owners of the 拢129 speaker will be able to control other smart devices such as light bulbs and thermostats.
Tuesday 28 March 2017 11:31, UK
Google is to launch its voice-controlled smart speaker to rival Amazon's Echo in the UK on 6 April, the tech giant has announced.
Google Home is a small speaker controlled by using the phrase "OK Google", which will utilise Google Search as well as the maps and translation functions to answer questions and provide information.
Google Home's Suveer Kothari said: "A really useful assistant takes context into account, like using your location to give you accurate weather readings.
"But you are always firmly in control. We're sensitive to privacy and give users the choice of whether to make personal data accessible on Google Home.
"Our goal is to create a helpful assistant that is welcome in your home. We may not be perfect at the start, but we'll continue to add new features and get better over time."
The Google Home speaker can be used to play music and also uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to understand context and answer follow-up questions.
The device, which will cost £129 and be available in a range of colours, can also be used to control other smart home products such as light bulbs, thermostats and TVs.
The tech giant is also launching its Wifi router, Google Wifi, in the UK.
It will also cost £129 and uses technology called mesh Wifi, which the firm says uses multiple routers to evenly spread internet signal throughout the home.