Consumers will soon be able to have Alexa-controlled smart lighting without owning an Echo, Dot, Tap or Look.
GE has revealed shipping and pricing info for the Sol, the Amazon Alexa-enabled lamp previewed at CES in January. The Sol, which doesn’t require a consumer to own one of Amazon’s stand-alone devices, will be sold under GE’s C by GE brand when it ships in September.
It will carry a $199 suggested retail and will initially be available direct from the company and through Amazon.
The lamp features the Alexa digital assistant technology built in and is able to serve many of the same functions as Amazon’s stand-alone devices: It can play music, answer questions and read headlines, as well as provide visual indicators and emit “sleep-enabled” hues. A clock function will illuminate the ring as if clock hands were there.
GE is no stranger to the Amazon ecosystem. The manufacturer collaborated with Amazon for its Dash push-button digital replenishment system, and has included Alexa capabilities in its major appliances. It also recently announced its connected air conditioners can use GE’s Geneva skill to remotely control the ACs from an Echo, Dot or Tap.
Finally, GE said its C by GE LED light bulbs will become compatible with Alexa and Apple HomeKit this summer. Consumers will be able to turn on and off, dim, and control bulbs individually or in groups via voice commands using a new C-Reach hub.
