Alexa+ has launched early access in Japan, offering features redesigned for Japan around an LLM. New models of Echo Time and Echo Dot were also announced.
Amazon officially announced the start of early access to Alexa+ for the Japanese market. The Japanese version will be available for ¥3,000 per month, and Amazon Prime members are expected to be able to use it at no additional charge. Early access will also apply to purchasers of Echo devices and Fire TV.
Alexa+ enhances natural-language understanding using an LLM and is designed to identify users’ intent through conversation. Particular emphasis was placed on interpreting the nuances specific to the Japanese market, including the balance between polite and familiar forms of Japanese.
Features integrated with services in Japan include Ring video search, package-arrival notifications, integration with the smartphone app, and integration with Tabelog, a local Japanese service. Some features differ from those available in the United States.
New models of Echo Time and Echo Dot were announced at the same time. Echo Time has a smart-clock-oriented design and is priced at ¥35,980, while Echo Dot is available in 4 colors and includes a built-in smart home hub.