LingLong DingDong, China's version of Amazon Echo, enters smart homes in Chinese languages
PUBLISHED ONNovember 24, 2016 4:16 AMByAnnabeth Leow
Mandarin and Cantonese speakers can say hello to smart homes that speak their language with the DingDong voice-enabled smart home device, reported technology website Wired on Tuesday (Nov 22).
Developed by Chinese joint venture Beijing LingLong, the DingDong is based on the same concept as its American counterparts Amazon Echo and Google Home. Users talk to a cloud-based speaker, which can handle tasks such as managing calendars, playing media and giving the latest stock market updates.
The device, which comes in Mandarin and Cantonese versions, is activated by the voice command "DingDong DingDong" and can also be addressed as "Xiaowei" or "Bailing".
Wired said that the DingDong is the first product from Beijing LingLong, which is a tie-up between Chinese e-retailer JD.com and software company iFLYTEK.
The DingDong was announced in a press release last May. It costs 900 yuan (S$186), according to Variety magazine.
China Daily reported last December that JD.com's JD Smart and iFLYTEK had also launched a similar Mi Gu smart speaker for 199 yuan.
This article was first published on November 23, 2016.
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