Amazon Echo Speakers Will Be Available via Offline Retailers in India Starting Next Week

Amazon announced the India launch of its range of Alexa-powered Echo devices last October. Until now, the Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Plus have only been available via Amazon.in where users need to request an invitation to purchase before completing the transaction. But all that is about to change.

Gadgets 360 has learnt that the trio of devices will be available for purchase via offline retail channels from next week. This should coincide with the removal of the invitation system from Amazon.in, opening up the way for you to purchase the smart speakers like any other product. It’s worth pointing out that Amazon has been pretty generous in handing out these “invitations” and they have been available to pretty much everyone who’s put in a request, often within hours.

At the time of the India launch of the Echo devices, Amazon had said post the invite-only period, it will make Echo smart speakers available via Croma, Reliance Digital stores, and other offline retail channels.

Amazon Echo range of devices launched in India with a starting price of Rs. 4,499 for the tiny Echo Dot which comes with a 0.6” tweeter. The bigger Echo with dual speakers (2.5" woofer, 0.6" tweeter) is priced at Rs. 9,999, and the Echo Plus with a built-in smart home hub is priced at Rs. 14,999. All devices are powered by Alexa, Amazon’s virtual assistant and you can control them with voice to perform various tasks like playing music, controlling smart home devices, setting timers, or asking basic trivia questions.

Echo Dot, Echo, or Echo Plus: Which One, if Any, Should You Buy? 

Amazon was offering a 30 percent discount on the above prices to early adopters, but right now Amazon.in has all Echo products listed at their full prices. Another launch benefit of free one-year Prime membership (worth Rs. 999) is still being offered with the purchase of the Echo devices. At this point, it’s unclear if this benefits will go away with general availability of these products.