Smart devices to run most homes
WHETHER you’re ordering a taxi or a pizza, there’s a high chance you won’t pick up a telephone to do it in future.
New research predicts more than half of American households will use i nternet- connected smart speakers to do their bidding just five years from now, and will task the machines with doing everything from ordering groceries to keeping them up to date on the latest news, weather and appointments.
Plus, Australian experts say unforeseen “lifestyle benefits” of using the artificial intelligence built into these speakers will see many more Australians adopt the technology, fuelling a rise in smart home products from just $377 million last year to $4.7 billion by 2021.
The new study from Juniper Research predicted 55 per cent of all American households, or more than 70 million homes, will use at least one smart speaker by 2022, including devices like Google Home, Amazon Echo, and the upcoming Apple HomePod.
The Google Home retails for around $200, but thanks to a special offer it could be yours if you sign a 12-month digital subscription with the Mercury.
Google Home will allow users to listen to the top four headlines from the Mercury in order to get the latest news, sport and opinion throughout the day hands-free and with a simple voice command.
All you need to do is select the Mercury as the preferred news source in the settings of the Google Home app on a smartphone or tablet. You just have to ask the device “tell me the news” and it will start reading. This special Mercury subscription offer costs just $7* a week for the first 12 months and we give you more than $420 of value. Here’s what’s included in this offer, but be quick, it’s only while stocks last.
WHAT YOU GET GOOGLE HOME
Every new 12month digital subscriber to this limited-time offer will receive a Google Home smart speaker device (RRP $199).
FULL DIGITAL ACCESS
As a subscriber you’ll get full digital access to themercury.com.au on all your devices, including our mobile and tablet apps, giving you analysis and insight from the Mercury’s team of journalists and expert columnists.
MEMBER REWARDS
Grab double passes to ALeague, NBL and Big Bash games, plus exclusive offers and experiences each month just for being a subscriber. Visit themercury. com.au/rewards.
ABOUT GOOGLE HOME
Google Home is a handsfree assistant, which can answer questions, play your music, manage everyday tasks like setting alarms and checking the weather and traffic, read recipes step-bystep, and control your smart home with voice commands.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Google Home is connected to your home through your wi-fi internet and connects wirelessly to other wi-fi devices to follow your commands, for example turning off the living room lamp, turning up the music or playing a particular TV show.
Simply open the Google Home app and connect to use the device. Google Home requires wi-fi, a Google email account and a compatible device to operate. Supported operating system is Android 4.1 and higher, iOS 8.0 and higher.
JOIN NOW
It’s easy to subscribe to get this offer. Sign up online now at themercury.com.au/ googlehome or call our customer service team on phone: 1800 134 152
* Only $7 a week billed every four weeks on a 12-month contract for new digital subscribers (minimum annual cost $364). Allow 15 days for Google Home device to arrive. Offer available while stocks last. Conditions apply, visit themercury.com.au/googlehome for full terms and conditions.