Amazon, Google Pressed by US Lawmakers on Smart Speakers Markets Amid Concern Over Dominance

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Pressed by US Lawmakers on Smart Speakers Markets Amid Concern Over Dominance

US lawmakers from both parties pressed Alphabet’s

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and

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on Tuesday about their smart speakers markets, amid concern over the domination of the tech behemoths in this area.

Senator Amy Klobuchar, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s antitrust subcommittee, noted that

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had more than 50 percent of the smart speaker market while

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had 30 percent, and stressed the importance of interoperability.

“In a few years, people might easily have 20 or more connected devices in their homes – from a vacuum and a fridge to speakers and lights. We want those devices to work with each other seamlessly,” she said. “You shouldn’t have to choose the right devices for your home based on whether they play nicely with

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or

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’s digital assistants.”

Smart home technology includes smart speakers like

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’s Echo or

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’s Nest, security systems or televisions.

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Senior Public Policy Director Wilson White said interoperability was a goal and there were “robust conversations” underway on how to achieve it.

Ryan McCrate,

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’s associate general counsel, said

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wanted users to have access to multiple assistants from a single device if that was what the user wanted.

Neither

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nor

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appeared to be trying for true interoperability, said Eddie Lazarus, chief legal officer for smart speaker maker Sonos.

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contractually prohibits Sonos from using technology that allows users to switch between

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’s Alexa and the

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voice assistant, Lazarus said. He said

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’s effort to work with smaller companies was “just an on-ramp into the

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ecosystem because you can’t mix and match between the big companies.”

The hearing took place at a time of extraordinary interest in tougher antitrust enforcement, much of it focused on the biggest US technology companies. One result has been a series of investigations and several federal and state lawsuits filed against

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and

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as well as a long list of antitrust bills.

© Thomson Reuters 2021

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alexa

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nest smart speakers market dominance us senate question probe antitrust

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#

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#

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#Pressed #Lawmakers #Smart #Speakers #Markets #Concern #Dominance

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