SEATTLE – Amazon’s voice-activated digital assistant Alexa is coming to Canada and bringing the company’s voice-controlled Echo speakers.
Amazon said Wednesday that it is now accepting pre-orders for Alexa-enabled devices Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Plus at the special introductory prices of $99.99, $49.99, and $169.99. The devices will begin shipping on December 5.
Alexa will come with a new English voice with a Canadian accent, local knowledge, and local skills from Canadian developers, reads the news release. Amazon also announced the expansion of the Alexa Skills Kit and the Alexa Voice Service, and said that Canadian companies including Telus, CBC, The Weather Network, CTV, Global and Corus’ radio stations have already developed skills for the assistant to help users of Alexa-enabled products to access their services.
Amazon added that its Prime Music streaming service is now available to Prime members in Canada, with more than one million songs available to stream ad-free at no additional cost.
“Tens of millions of customers are already using Alexa, and today we’re excited to bring her to Canada with an experience designed from the ground up for our Canadian customers,” said Amazon Alexa SVP Tom Taylor, in the release. “The combination of Alexa and Echo provides customers with hands-free access to music, weather, news, information, and more—just ask.”
