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Google Home & Google Home Mini Launch Set for April 10 in India
[dropcap]G[/dropcap]oogle is all set to launch its Google Home and Google Home Mini smart speakers in India market on April 10. Last week, we learned from a communication circulated by a Google distribution partner – Redington India – to retailers, that Google was going to launch its smart speakers in the country in April. The official Google India twitter handle has confirmed through a tweet that the two devices are going to be launched in India.
The launch of the Google Home and Google Home Mini comes a few months after Amazon launched its range of smart speakers – Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Plus – in India. Google’s this launch seems like a calculated move to capture the home automation market in India, in its nascent stage. The imported Google Home voice assistant devices have started receiving a Bluetooth speaker pairing update recently which added new services to the Media Accounts menu. The menu now has support for streaming services such as Saavn and Gaana, although the voice integration with services is unavailable as of now.
According to a new report by ETech, Google also has plans to launch some other products, including the Pixelbook, home automation devices and even a mid-range smartphone in the Indian market. These products are expected later this year, however, and not be present during the April 10 event.
Currently, there is no information regarding the pricing of the Google Home and Home Mini. The Google Home Mini speaker retails for $ 49 (₹ 3299) in the US, while the bigger Google Home costs $ 129 (₹ 8400). There is also no word on whether the Wi-Fi-enabled smart speakers will be available only via offline stores or if there will be available online as well. If Google decides to price the new speakers similar to what it retails for in the US, then the Home speakers would have a slight edge over Amazon’s offerings.