At 8 o'clock for electronics enthusiasts: If you're looking to pick the hottest gadget type of 2017, smart speakers are definitely on the list. Ever since Amazon pioneered this new market, Google, Apple, and Microsoft have jumped in one after another. Companies like Samsung, Alibaba, Tencent, and Lenovo have also been actively involved.
Check out this image of some of the smart speakers currently on the market:
[Image description: A collage of various smart speakers including Amazon Echo, Google Home, Apple HomePod, etc.]
With the massive success of the Galaxy S8 and S8+, Samsung managed to shake off the shadow of the Galaxy Note 7 this year. Recently, there’s been news that the Korean giant is working on a smart speaker based on the Bixby voice assistant. Codenamed Vega, this project has faced delays due to issues with Bixby itself.
While details about this device remain scarce—configuration specs and functions are still undecided—the release date remains unclear. According to the Korea Herald, Samsung's commitment to entering the smart speaker market isn't strong enough. They don't see the current market as particularly promising, especially since the local Korean market is too small to be profitable.
Moreover, Samsung lacks sufficient AI expertise compared to U.S. tech giants. Most of their AI professionals are focused on developing the English version of Bixby, leaving them at a disadvantage when it comes to competing in this space. Industry experts suggest that Samsung might adopt a cautious "wait-and-see" approach rather than rushing into the market with a fully functional product.
The smart speaker market has grown fiercely competitive. Amazon kicked things off with Echo back in late 2014, and for the next couple of years, they dominated. Last year, as Echo gained popularity, other big names joined the race. Google launched its Home device at the end of last year, and we saw a wave of similar products at this year's CES, like Lenovo's Smart Assistant. Apple's HomePod hit the market last month, while Alibaba's Tmall Genie made its debut earlier this month.
Microsoft's partners are also gearing up to release Cortana-powered smart speakers, and rumors suggest Tencent and Xiaomi could unveil their offerings later this year. When Samsung finally enters the fray, the market will undoubtedly get even more exciting.
One of the biggest hurdles Samsung faces is insufficient software expertise. Unlike other consumer tech products, smart speakers rely heavily on advanced voice assistants, which require significant technological know-how. Amazon's Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple's Siri have all been developed over years and are now quite mature. In contrast, Samsung's Bixby is still relatively young and struggles with recognizing different accents and dialects accurately.
This weak software foundation is a common issue among hardware manufacturers, not just Samsung. Their custom TouchWiz interface has long drawn user complaints, though it has improved somewhat in recent years. Samsung is also the sole supporter of Tizen OS, but related products haven't made much of an impact.
Bixby is a key feature of the Galaxy S8 and S8+, even having its own dedicated activation button, but its English version only launched recently. It still has trouble recognizing all accents, dialects, and expressions. For a smartphone, the absence of Bixby doesn’t necessarily mean failure, as it’s not central to the device's core functionality. But for a smart speaker, the voice assistant is everything. Its performance will largely determine the success of the product.
Localizing voice assistants presents another challenge. Amazon’s Alexa service is currently restricted to the UK, the US, and Germany. Google Assistant only supports English for now, though more languages are expected soon. Apple's Siri offers multi-language support on iOS, but the specifics regarding HomePod remain unclear.
Bixby's delayed rollout in the US was partly due to insufficient English proficiency. Even if Bixby improves linguistically, Samsung will face challenges in other areas of localization. Voice assistants need to understand regional accents and idioms and be familiar with local pop culture, celebrities, and sports figures. Achieving this requires integrating relevant local entertainment, information, and services. This is why most successful voice assistants are part of larger ecosystems built by major manufacturers.
Bixby might excel in South Korea, but tackling the broader Western market will require more effort from Samsung.
Different companies also adopt different business models. Amazon views the Echo series and Alexa platform as opportunities to boost sales of home goods. Google aims to monetize through advertising, given that the price of Google Home is relatively low. Apple, meanwhile, follows its usual strategy of profiting from both hardware and software as a whole, with HomePod potentially driving Apple Music subscriptions.
Samsung’s situation differs from these competitors. As a hardware-focused company, most of Samsung's profits come from selling semiconductors, displays, mobile devices, and home appliances. Unlike Amazon, Google, and Apple, who aren't primarily reliant on smart speaker sales for profit, Samsung may struggle to justify entering this market without a clear path to profitability.
Is Samsung truly giving up on this category? It’s hard to say. In response to emerging technologies over the past few years, Samsung has never been absent—whether it’s smartwatches, fitness trackers, 360-degree cameras, wireless earbuds, or VR headsets. For a financially robust company like Samsung, staying ahead of competitors might be more important than immediate profitability.
In any case, the smart speaker market is set to become even more dynamic soon.
We are manufacturer of Low Voltage Abc Accessories in China, if you want to buy Steel Strain Clamp Nes-b1,Four Eye Tension Clamp,Dead End Clamp For Nfc Standard please contact us.
Low Voltage Abc Accessories,Steel Strain Clamp Nes-b1,Four Eye Tension Clamp,Dead End Clamp For Nfc Standard
Shahe Yipeng Import and Export trading Co., LTD , https://www.yppolelinehardware.com