Contributor I

Answered

Sonos Alexa Integration India

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
November 2, 2017
80 replies
7069 views

I am form Mumbai, India. I have been using Sonos with Alexa integration till yesterday, until Amazon launched Alexa services in India. To get the local skills I had my Amazon marketplace for Alexa changed from UK to India and since then my Sonos skill for Alexa vanished.
I am unable to search Sonos skill on Alexa Skills page. On contacting Amazon, they replied that Sonos hasn't released the skill for India 😞.
Any clue how can I enable the Sonos skill for Alexa whilst having the location India.

Regards,
Shanty

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Best answer by Ryan S

Sorry for the delay, we most certainly read every thread, but it's been so busy of late that it's difficult to keep up.

I know you're hungry for news and eagerly awaiting any announcement or details from us. I don't have an official statement for you on support for the Sonos Alexa skill in India above what's already been said.

Alexa support for Sonos is available in the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom, and we're hard at work getting everything ready to bring the Sonos skill for Alexa to more countries. We haven't announced which countries are up next, but our aspiration is everywhere.

I think it's important to remember that Sonos isn't currently sold directly in India. While we have some great customers like you guys, we have yet to officially enter India as a company. We're definitely interested and love that you are such early adopters, and clearly interested and involved. We'd love to bring Sonos to all countries, as well as Alexa support for Sonos. We’re working with Amazon on their Alexa expansion plans, and for that matter, with Google on theirs with Assistant, to bring voice control to Sonos everywhere we can.

Stay tuned for more details!

K

Kumar

I am in the same boat, the difference being that I did not use Alexa via any workarounds, so I still have to see this on my Echo + Sonos; at this point all I can do is use the Echo as a standalone speaker. Your alternatives are to revert to UK and lose local skills or wait for Sonos and perhaps Amazon to accept that there is a world outside of US/UK/Germany and release Sonos skills for the official Alexa India presence. More Sonos than Amazon; by releasing the official version here, Amazon has done their bit, I suspect.

K

Kumar

Also see my last posts here: https://en.community.sonos.com/amazon-alexa-and-sonos-229102/new-to-sonos-or-alexa-how-to-set-up-6791327/index7.html#post16162328

K

Kumar

And perhaps you can straight away double the demand for this as seen by the Sonos CEO by sending him an email as well!

Patrick.Spence@sonos.com

Since this address is available elsewhere on this Sonos site, nothing inappropriate in putting out his address here.

B

bnilesh

Avid Contributor I

I am also waiting for sonos skill getting released in India. I was expecting it to be released along with Amazon Alexa app but it didn't. Unable to understand logic behind this.

K

Kumar

The only logic is in addressing the logistics to be done to do this, and it will get done. Hopefully, sooner rather than later. In the couple of days I am using the Echo I am getting impressed with how well it is doing, including the Indian accent customisation that Amazon has done quite well - the accent is spot on without being a Hollywood parody. Amazon India feedback to bugs and fixes needed is also surprisingly quick and effective.

But I am also realising the benefit of being able to initiate music play, something that will not be possible globally from local NAS on Sonos for quite some time, I imagine; the logistics/challenges there look to be more complex than releasing Sonos Skills to Alexa India.

K

Kumar

An update received from Sonos yesterday that was very disappointing because it said that Sonos Skills will be available when, quote: when Sonos and a voice service launch together in your region: unquote.

Seeing that Alexa India is already launched, one possible interpretation of the above is - NEVER. Because now they can never launch together in India, Sonos has missed the ship that has sailed.

I have pointed out that this is a very disappointing response, but have no reaction as of now to that reply.

B

bnilesh

Avid Contributor I

An update received from Sonos yesterday that was very disappointing because it said that Sonos Skills will be available when, quote: when Sonos and a voice service launch together in your region: unquote.

Where from you received update. In that case it's really disappointing. They should have followed the policy of releasing service along with Amazon Echo/Alexa in any territory which is more logical.

N

Navyn

Lyricist II

Oh man! What a pity, that all of us are stuck in a similar situation! I can clearly see Sonos under Music services, but has no relevance of the sonos skill.

K

Kumar

I agree; and my communications have been with different people in Sonos from the CEO to team leads, all offering bland corporate assurances. Disappointing.
Here is one for Ryan if he finds the time:
A cut/paste from the Sonos FAQ:

"Can I use Amazon Alexa with any Sonos player?
Yes, Amazon Alexa works on all Sonos players.
Where is Amazon Alexa available?
Amazon Alexa is currently available in the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom."

Since this was put on the site, Amazon Alexa is currently available in the above countries + India. Officially via Amazon.
Why then is it wrong for anyone reading this to expect Amazon Alexa to work with Sonos players in India? To me as of now, this is a misrepresentation by Sonos in its published material. A corporate lawyer may be able to parse a wriggle out, but Sonos would do better to make some quick moves to correct the situation and by that I mean making the skills available. Not changing the FAQ.

K

Kumar

Todays update: I think I ruffled some feathers in Sonos because a more senior team lead has taken over the communications to me after apologising for the assurance I was given yesterday which literally read as: "I hope you will get the feature in India soon."
I was stunned at the language, to be honest, and said so.
Now it is: "We are working hard to give this to you, but can't say when."
Progress though.
I remain impressed with how well Amazon India has rolled this out; all is working quite well, and occasional glitches rapidly addressed. I can't speak to skills other than music play, but my wife is using the Echo in the kitchen effortlessly for music from Amazon Prime. She never touches Sonos. So is my daughter in the kitchen in her home, but being of a later generation she does use Sonos as well.

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