Google Assistant Heading To Other Smart Speakers From Anker, Mobvoi & Panasonic

Google has announced that Google Assistant is heading to third-party speakers later this year. The company has announced three new smart speakers from Anker, Mobvoi and Panasonic.

First up is Anker’s Zolo Mojo, which appears to be a sleek, black and small home speaker that’s seems to take its design cues from Google Home. Anker says that the Zolo Mojo will be available in late October. It seems like it’s being marketed as an entry-level smart speaker for it will only cost $70.

Next is Mobvoi’s TicHome Mini, which is a bit reminiscent of the Amazon Echo Dot. The TicHome is designed for mobility which is also why it comes with a strap and is IPx6 spill-proof. No release window or price has been announced for the TicHome Mini, but Mobvoi is currently offering a 30 percent discount for people who will sign up to their mailing list, according to The Verge.

Lastly, there’s the GA10 by Panasonic. It appears to look like a tall and rectangular version of the Amazon Echo. The GA10 comes with a more minimalistic design and features high quality audio that’s made possible by its speaker setup. Unlike the Zolo Mojo and the TicHome, the Panasonic GA10 will actually be released in early 2018.

All three of these upcoming home speakers will be powered by Google Assistant. Users will be able to perform tasks by simply speaking the trigger words “Ok Google.” Like Google Home, these new speakers can also be set up with multiple accounts, play music from various services like Spotify and Google Play Music and control other smart home devices.

“From the start, we've believed that your Google Assistant should be available wherever you need help, and that’s why it’s already on Google Home, eligible Android phones, iPhones, Google Allo and Android Wear,” Google said on its blog. “Big or small, round or square, no matter what smart speaker fits into your house or your budget, your Assistant can help you get more done.” Google added that these new smart speakers will be available in the United States, U.K., Australia, Canada, Germany and France.

In addition to bringing Google Assistant to third-party home speakers, the company also announced that it has partnered with home appliance manufacturers. Later this year, Google Assistant users will be able to control washers, dryers, vacuums and more from their smart speaker. LG Electronics is currently the only manufacturer mentioned by Google as being one of its new partners.

Google first made its Assistant widely available to third-party companies back in April when it released its software development kit (SDK) to developers. The company wants to bring the Google Assistant to as many users as possible, this is why it’s now available on more Android smartphones and even on iOS devices as a standalone app.

Google appears to be ramping up its plans to get Assistant to as many people as possible, but Amazon’s Alexa still appears to be in the lead. Amazon has already stepped up its game when it announced yesterday that it has partnered with Microsoft to make Cortana and Alexa work together.

Other rivals in the horizon include Sonos, which is expected to unveil its smart speaker on Oct. 4, and Apple’s Siri-powered HomePod, which will be released later this December.