Amazon Echo smart speakers now support multiroom playback for music-streaming service Spotify and SiriusXM satellite radio. This means that multiple Echo devices can now synchronize music across multiple rooms in a building.
Like most Amazon smart devices, Echo responds to Alexa, a digital assistant built on artificial intelligence (AI). Users will just need to say a command like "Alexa, play music everywhere," and the AI-controlled speakers will play music synchronize from the users' preferred streaming service.
According to The Verge, a little setup needs to be done for multiroom playback to work properly. First, users need to go to the Alexa app and tweak some settings. Under "Audio Groups," there will be a section for "Multi-Room Music."
Upon selecting Multi-Room Music, users will be given the option to create groups. This is where the commands are specified. For example, a bunch of Echo speakers may be grouped as "upstairs." This group will respond when the command "Alexa, play music upstairs" is given.
It should be noted that these are just examples not fixed options. The commands and names for groups are customizable. In any case, the set-up will be complete once groups are set.
Multi-room was actually already available for Amazon Echo smart speakers since earlier this year. However, the service previously only supported Amazon Music Unlimited, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, and Pandora.
Only this month did multi-room playback become available for Spotify and SiriusXM.
In addition, multi-room for SiriusXM satellite radio is only available for the United States. For Spotify, the service works in the US, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, and Ireland.
Echo is Amazon's brand of smart speakers, first launched in 2014. It responds to "Alexa," but this wake word can also be changed to "Amazon," "Computer," or "Echo." The speaker can play music, as well as set alarms, stream podcasts, play audiobooks, and provide real-time information about the weather and traffic.
