CollinsVerizon is preparing to introduce a smart display gadget based on the Alexa voice assistant, according to a Friday filing with the Federal Communications Commission (first reported by Protocol).
The FCC application depicts a gadget that looks similar to an Amazon Echo, with an 8-inch display and front-facing camera, as well as 4GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, Bluetooth, wi-fi, and 4G connectivity. The user interface for the gadget, dubbed LVD1, is not yet known, but it will “wake” when users say the phrase “Hi Verizon” to it, according to the filing.
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As Protocol points out, this appears to corroborate that the device is part of Amazon’s Alexa Custom Assistant program, which lets businesses to create their own versions of Alexa for their own branded devices. Creating Alexa skills that are customized to various devices.
According to a user manual included in the FCC petition, the device supports Verizon’s BlueJeans video conferencing technology, which would be a logical use for it.
At the time of the acquisition, Verizon said in a statement that “BlueJeans will be deeply integrated into Verizon’s 5G product roadmap, providing secure and real-time engagement solutions for high growth areas such as telemedicine, distance learning, and field service work.”
Collins