Google is scheduled to launch the much-awaited Google Home and Home Mini in India on April 10 and is exclusive to Flipkart. The home-grown e-commerce giant has revealed a teaser page with the image and banner of the smart speakers.
Flipkart also provided a facility to register for updates and launch offers. The catch is that you can only register via the app and not through the website. The Flipkart app has tagged the new speakers as “Intelligence meets comfort” and “Listen to music”. The page states that you can bring music to life using voice. We also registered on the app and is a very simple process.
Meanwhile, the search engine giant took to Twitter and revealed the launch of the Google Home speakers with the hashtag #MakeGoogleDoIt. The company requests users to be ready for the next #MakeGoogleDoIt at your home. In addition to the images of google hOme and Mini speakers, the tweet also includes a punch line tagged as “Help at home, coming soon”.
Get ready to #MakeGoogleDoIt, at home too. Coming soon. pic.twitter.com/JuNvt3cpFE
— Google India (@GoogleIndia) April 2, 2018
Even though the tweet doesn’t mention the launch date, the invites sent to media reveals the date as April 10. We didn’t get any invites and hence we are unable to cross-check but we can believe in the media news.
Touted as a hub for connected home, Google Home series is powered by Google Assistant and not Amazon Alexa. You will be able to interact with the speaker using voice and the results will be delivered via Assistant. Apparently, Google Assistant is available on Android smartphones, which can be activated by pressing the home button.
Initially, you will face problems with the speakers but once your voice becomes familiar with the system, then it will render results accurately. In addition to music playback, you can create and manage tasks including the ability to control lights and appliances.
The music is delivered via Google Play Music, YouTube Music and third-party services such as Spotify and Pandora. We expect Google to establish a partnership with Saavn as well. It remains to be seen as to whether Google tie-ups with Saavn because Amazon is using the service on its Echo series. Like in the case of Amazon Echo Dot, you will be able to make use of the Google Home mini in multiple rooms.
Previously, we had reported that Redington India, who distributes google products had communicated to various stakeholders privately about the launch of the smart speakers. The launch of Google Home smart speakers assumes great significance since Amazon had launched its popular Echo series speakers in October 2017.
We will know about the pricing of the Google Home on April 20. However, we expect the Google Home Mini to cost Rs. 3000 and Google Home at Rs. 9000. You can also expect discounts for pre-orders. Google will never sell their products on Amazon. Hence, you can expect the availability of the new smart speakers on Flipkart.
