Bixby Speaker vs. Amazon Echo: Samsung Granted Design Patent For Audio Device

Samsung could be joining the smart assistant-powered speakers market in the future. The tech giant headquartered in Seoul, South Korea has recently been awarded a design patent for a mysterious "audio device," and it won't come as a surprise if this would turn out to be another Amazon Echo rival. Last Tuesday, Patently Mobile learned that Samsung was granted two design patents by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. While one is for a new "Note"-branded smartphone, another is for a digital assistant device that could be the tech giant's response to the successful Amazon Echo and the similar devices that have been popping up on the market recently. When Samsung introduced Bixby alongside the new Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 in late March, it mentioned its plan of making the digital assistant available to a range of devices including smart home appliances, connected devices and possibly other gadgets that have yet to be introduced to the public.