Tech analysts GBH insights say that it expects Apple’s delayed HomePod smart speaker to be launched ‘in the next 4-6 weeks’ – but that it will face an ‘uphill climb’ as it seeks to compete with entrenched competitors.
It thinks that two factors will make the launch significantly tougher than it would have been had it been released on time …
Second, it says that Google is investing a lot of CES marketing effort in its rival Google Home speakers.
Although Apple focuses its attention on the premium end of the market, and won’t be trying to compete with the $50 Echo Dot, GBH argues that the HomePod likely paves the way for other products down the road, making it a critical test for the company.
We expect a big push for Google’s smart speaker Home product at CES this week with the underlying goal to drive more partners and products through its voice driven Assistant product portfolio […] Google is using CES as its Trojan Horse event to aggressively drive its Home product and spread the smart speaker gospel to new and existing partners as well as the all-important developer community.
Even Apple fans might consider existing alternatives, argued Zac Hall in a recent opinion piece.
