The move is said to be the latest step in the company's efforts to challenge Amazon's Alexa with its Google Assistant that's currently far behind its main rival in terms
of smart speaker market share, according to some estimates.
Apple certainly has some catching up to do: An eMarketer forecast last month predicted that Amazon is expected to command roughly 70 percent
of the smart speaker market share this year, with Google Home taking much of the rest of the market.
Not exact matches
Analyst Tom Tien at Taiwan - based TrendForce estimates that Amazon and Google commanded 87.2 %
of global
smart speaker market share in..
Analyst Tom Tien at Taiwan - based TrendForce estimates that Amazon and Google commanded 87.2 %
of global
smart speaker market share in 2017 followed by Alibaba and Xiaomi at 4 % and 3 % respectively.
However, the more striking finding is that TrendForce estimates that every
smart speaker manufacturer will grow
market share entirely at the expense
of Amazon Echo.
The move is designed to take on Amazon, the internet e-commerce giant that also dominates the U.S. voice - controlled device industry with a 72 %
market share thanks to its Echo range
of smart speakers.
When it comes to voice - activated
smart speakers, Amazon is the undisputed leader, with 76 percent
of the
market share.
Google Home is in direct competition with Amazon Echo, which currently holds the majority
of the
market share for
smart speakers that power virtual assistants.
However, the more striking finding is that TrendForce estimates that every
smart speaker manufacturer will grow
market share entirely at the expense
of Amazon Echo.
Analyst Tom Tien at Taiwan - based TrendForce estimates that Amazon and Google commanded 87.2 %
of global
smart speaker market share in..
Today's infographic, from Raconteur, sheds light on the fight for
smart speaker market share, how early adopters are using the devices, and the growing array
of voice - enabled devices currently on the
market.
That latter item is especially important to retailers, given that Amazon has tied voice shopping to its Echo devices, and has claimed the majority
of market share in
smart speakers for the time being.
The research firm posits that
smart speakers have become the fastest growing consumer technology in recent times, surpassing
market share gains
of AR, VR and even wearables.
The
market share data was derived from an email interview with the research principle and the report's representation that 16 %
of survey participants owned a
smart speaker of any type, 11 % indicated Amazon Echo ownership and 4 % for Google Home.
It may have captured more than 30 %
of all
smart speaker sales in 2017 which helped it rise to 18.4 % U.S.
smart speaker market share in terms
of total users.
For example, Walmart last year teamed up with Google in order to have an entry point in the voice - assisted shopping space, by way
of Google Home
smart speakers — an area where Amazon's Alexa has mopped up
market share.
According to eMarketer, Alexa holds an 82 %
share of the overall
smart speaker market.
Amazon Echo led European
smart speaker sales
market share by a factor
of two - to - one.
The introduction
of new
smart speakers into Europe in 2018 will surely impact both Amazon and Google
market share going forward.
The invoke
speaker which combines premium 360 degree with the power
of Cortana is quite late with its entry in this
market segment since the Amazon Echo was launched way back in 2014 and currently holds 70 %
of the total
market share of smart AI powered
speakers, while google launched the google home in 2016 which holds a modest 23.8 % according to eMarketer.
Smart Speaker Use Case Frequency January 2018 Device
Market Share Breakdown 2017 Why Some Consumers Have Not Purchased a
Smart Speaker Total US Alexa Skills Total Alexa Skills in UK & Germany
Smart Speaker
Market Share Canalys
Smart Speaker Sales 2017 Number
of Alexa App Downloads Alexa Skill Milestones Alexa Skill Growth Rates Alexa Skill Ratings Breakdown Alexa Skill Ratings Analysis Top 100 Rated Alexa Skills By Category
Smart Speaker Sales Amazon Alexa Consumer Use Statistics CIRP: How Consumers Use Amazon Echo CIRP: Amazon Customer Awareness
of Amazon Echo Voice Assistant Device Footprint Amazon Alexa Sales Growth Voice Assistant Google Search Trends US Households with
Smart Speakers US Household
Smart Speaker Ownership US
Smart Speaker Installed Base Number
of Alexa Skills by Content Category
According to the same report, Amazon's
market share in the
smart speaker space has dropped from 93.5 % from Q3 2016 down to 66.9 % at the end
of the third quarter in 2017.
The 69 % figure for Amazon is consistent with Edison Research findings at the end
of 2017, but that study showed only 25 %
market share for Google Home and 6 % for
smart speakers from other manufacturers.
Amazon had about two - thirds
of the
smart speaker market towards end
of 2017, but that figure doesn't reflect the full holiday shopping season, when Google likely gained more
market share.
Although Google placed second in the
smart speaker segment in the third quarter
of 2017 with a 25 percent
market share, the research firm reminds that Amazon had a two - year head start over Google with its first Amazon Echo
smart speaker, which was launched in November 2014.