New Voice Apps Are Declining as a Breakout Hit Remains Elusive
The number of Alexa Skills introduced in 2019 was lowest since 2016
The format has yet to produce a big breakout hit analogous to viral early iPhone games that drew people into the App Store.
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Key insights:
- Few branded voice experiences have been more than a flash in the pan.
- A handful of early adopters have managed to see modest success.
- Many voice apps remain too complicated for the average person.
More than a glorified home speaker, the simple plastic cylinder that is Amazon’s Echo device has been billed as a portal into a new way of interacting with technology. It can serve up everything from muse-like creative inspiration to recipes with a few spoken words of command.
This story first appeared in the March 16, 2020, issue of Adweek magazine. Click here to subscribe.
