Amazon Echo smart speaker is now available for everyone to purchase

After seven months of being invitation-only, the Amazon Echo — part-wireless speaker, part smart-home gadget — is now available for anyone to buy.

The cylinder-shaped device syncs with your phone to play music, reads aloud the news and weather, orders products directly from Amazon and even controls your house's lights (if they're compatible). Requests are fulfilled via Amazon's digital voice assistant Alexa.

Amazon likely had a slow rollout so it could keep testing the device, gauge early reviews and not encourage a demand it couldn't meet. But now, the company will start shipping Echo to anyone who wants one, starting July 14, for $179.99. Previously, the device cost $199 for non-Amazon Prime members and $99 for those with a Prime account, but the company said the early pricing would only be available for a limited time Read more...