Verizon’s Alexa-powered Echo Show rival just revealed by FCC

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Verizon'southward Alexa-powered Echo Evidence rival just revealed by FCC

(Image credit: Verizon/FCC)

A Verizon branded filing with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) suggests an interesting bit of hardware is only around the corner. The FCC listing, first spotted past Protocol, reveals that the company is working on an Echo Show fashion smart screen with a modified version of Alexa built in.

Rather than using the usual "Alexa" wake word, the smart screen volition apparently be woken by a person saying "Hi Verizon" instead. That means that Verizon is probable using Amazon's Alexa Custom Assistant program that was start unveiled in January, which not only allows custom wake words, simply a different voice and set of skills also.

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How far the device will diverge from smart screens like the Repeat Show and Nest Hub remains to be seen, simply the cardinal specs are there on the listings for all to see. The device will sport an 8-inch 1280 x 800 display with front-facing camera that tin can be blocked via a switch on pinnacle of the device for privacy. And then, its closest competitor looks to be the Echo Show 8.

Pictures of the bottom of the device show the proper name "Verizon Smart Brandish", and a large Dolby Audio logo. Curiously, there's a USB port next to the power jack, and it'll accept 4GB RAM, 16GB of internal storage and support Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and 4G connections according to the manual.

The manual likewise mentions the BlueJeans video conferencing service which was acquired by Verizon last year. At the fourth dimension, the visitor said that BlueJeans would be "deeply integrated into Verizon's 5G product roadmap" with a particular focus on "high growth areas such as telemedicine, distance learning and field service work."

While the smart screen only mentions 4G rather than 5G, that alone is a curious inclusion. Smart screens typically brand utilize of Wi-Fi only, because they're generally not intended to move from place to place. The inclusion of LTE connectivity indicates that Verizon sees this as a weakness to the existing devices out there, and peradventure in that location is a market for a more than portable dedicated screen for video conferencing, avoiding the need to multitask via laptop webcam.

At the time of writing, just 2 smart screens make it into our listing of the best smart speakers: the Google Nest Hub Max and the Echo Show eight, with the list dominated past dedicated speakers without displays. It volition be interesting to come across if the Verizon Smart Screen brings anything new to the tabular array that makes a congenital-in screen a must-have feature in the hereafter.

• More: The best smart habitation devices in 2021

Freelance correspondent Alan has been writing about tech for over a decade, roofing phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are found all over the web and in the occasional mag also. When not weighing upward the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you'll probably find him tackling his ever-growing games backlog. Or, more than likely, playing Spelunky for the millionth time.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/verizon-seems-to-be-working-on-an-alexa-powered-echo-show-rival

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