
Whirlpool is about to become the latest vendor to join Alexa’s dating pool.
The manufacturer said it plans to imbue a host of smart appliances across its brand portfolio with Amazon’s voice-controlled virtual digital assistant beginning early this year. Besides its eponymous brand, Whirlpool also produces white goods under the Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air and Amana brands.
That means consumers with Amazon’s Echo, Dot or Tap wireless speakers in their homes will be able to order Alexa to pause and start washers and dryers; provide wash- or dry-cycle updates; change the oven temperature; and control refrigerator settings.
“Now any customer with a far-field Alexa enabled device can control most smart appliances made by Whirlpool Corporation, simply using their voice,” said Rob Pulciani, director, Amazon Alexa. “Our customers will love the added convenience of hands-free controls while they’re prepping for dinner or finishing that last load of laundry.”
Whirlpool, which already collaborates with Amazon on its Dash automatic replenishment system, follows GE Appliances into Alexa’s lexicon. That company introduced its first Alexa controlled Monogram and GE-brand ranges, refrigerators, wall ovens, laundry pair and water heaters last fall.
Whirlpool will be demonstrating its Alexa-enabled smart appliances this week at CES 2017 in booth #41730 in the Smart Home section at the Sands Expo Center.
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