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When does Sonos expect to have support for Google Assistant?
With the news of the BEAM SOUNDBAR there's more chatter about Google Assistant integration.



Any news on Google Assistant integration with the Play One's now Sonos?? Come on, we've been pretty patient...



The news is still "sometime in 2018".
I don’t get the negativity about this. Voice assistant support, while cool, is still pretty meh. Alexa/Google voice assistants, tried them both. As often as I find them useful I find them to be a waste of time. I bought Sonos for the app, sound quality, and above all else, multi-room audio. Now I understand there are people out there that feel empowered by voice control and this is their killer feature. It’s frustrating to wait being one of those people I’m sure. When the moment arrives that another company has approximated what Sonos has, feel free to point out they blew it. I doubt they want that to come to pass. So if it’s taking them a while, it’s because there’s something that’s not fully baked yet. I wish they would be a little more transparent with the enthusiastic fans of their products, but alas we are left to speculate and wait.



I agree with some of this sentiment but will say that I bought the ONE sight-unseen last year in 2017 based largely on the very forthright and exuberant claims that Google was "coming soon". I figured I try out Alexa in the meantime but didn't imagine the extent of "coming soon". It's been well over a half a year. I check in here peridocally and it's no skin off my teeth, but.... I too have always been nonplussed by voice assistance in general, even today. But that being said, I have always found Google assistant far, FAR (for whatever reason) less frustrating than Alexa. All I use the ONE for is turning lights off and on and she often can't do that without asking three times. She's also a kitchen timer and that's the extent of what I've found useful. Everything else is mostly novelty and, in terms of using Sonos I use the controller probably 90% of the time, likely more. Alexa is just too frustrating. So really, all I'm waiting for is the assistant on the ONE to be one that I find less irritating... unless the support is drastically better I still probably won't use it.
I don’t get the negativity about this. Voice assistant support, while cool, is still pretty meh. Alexa/Google voice assistants, tried them both. As often as I find them useful I find them to be a waste of time. I bought Sonos for the app, sound quality, and above all else, multi-room audio. Now I understand there are people out there that feel empowered by voice control and this is their killer feature. It’s frustrating to wait being one of those people I’m sure. When the moment arrives that another company has approximated what Sonos has, feel free to point out they blew it. I doubt they want that to come to pass. So if it’s taking them a while, it’s because there’s something that’s not fully baked yet. I wish they would be a little more transparent with the enthusiastic fans of their products, but alas we are left to speculate and wait.



I agree with some of this sentiment but will say that I bought the ONE sight-unseen last year in 2017 based largely on the very forthright and exuberant claims that Google was "coming soon". I figured I try out Alexa in the meantime but didn't imagine the extent of "coming soon". It's been well over a half a year. I check in here peridocally and it's no skin off my teeth, but.... I too have always been nonplussed by voice assistance in general, even today. But that being said, I have always found Google assistant far, FAR (for whatever reason) less frustrating than Alexa. All I use the ONE for is turning lights off and on and she often can't do that without asking three times. She's also a kitchen timer and that's the extent of what I've found useful. Everything else is mostly novelty and, in terms of using Sonos I use the controller probably 90% of the time, likely more. Alexa is just too frustrating. So really, all I'm waiting for is the assistant on the ONE to be one that I find less irritating... unless the support is drastically better I still probably won't use it.



I am with you on this one. My mum has used Alexa with little success, and I have never had a problem with Google assistant on my phone, however...



I can now boost my central heating (hive) while eating my dinner and my 5yo daughter loves playing "fireworks by Katy Perry on spotify". So when Google turn up I am pretty sure we will use it.
The press release didn't say anything about older Sonos devices(unless I misread), only the Sonos One. Hopefully we get it for older devices in 2018.



http://press-us.sonos.com/159680-sonos-unveils-smart-speaker-with-support-for-multiple-voice-services
I guess it's wishful thinking, but has Sonos clarified if we'll be able to use Sonos One as a "dual" assistant (i.e: being able to speak to either voice service using alternatively the wake word Alexa or OK Google), or if we will have to "lock" the speaker onto one of the two services by going into the settings?

I'm afraid it will be the latter, but I would find a tremendous use case for being able to direct each request to either service, depending on the wake word that will be used given Google is better for general knowledge queries (opening hours, telephone numbers, wikipedia, etc), and amazon for its wider skills library.. Sonos would definitely have a competitive advantage in offering this, and would really make their point towards the vendor-agnostic voice service.



Technically, I would believe this would be possible as it's the sonos cloud which will pass on the query, and the local speaker would just have to listen in to both words instead of focusing on one?



Any thoughts?
I don't think there is any downside to the Sonos One and Beam be able to respond to both wake words at the same time. From what I understand (I don't have one yet) during setup, you have to select the voice assistant you want to use, so I doubt you'll be able to do that. From a technical standpoint, it may be rather difficult on the Sonos Unit itself to handle both, regardless of what's happening in the cloud. There may also be some legal/contractual reasons preventing such a thing...don't know.



However, there's nothing stopping you from putting a google mini or echo dot right next to your Sonos One, effectively giving you both assistants, though not in as aesthetically pleasing. As well, I would guess you will be able to request music to play on Sonos from a mini or dot in the same setup. The Sonos skill is setup on the Alexa sign, and I'd be surprised if Google doesn't work the same.
At the Beam launch they started a track with siri on a phone, and then stopped it using Alexa.
At the Beam launch they started a track with siri on a phone, and then stopped it using Alexa.



Yes, but not sure what that has to do with Google Assistant. For the case you described, the phone is streaming audio to Sonos through Airplay 2. It's not the same scenario as Sonos supporting 2 voice assistants (Google and Alexa) at the same time.
I don't know if someone from Sonos could at least clarify this point?



Also, this is more on Google side, though, have they made any statement on the availability of their free voice calling feature (US/UK only at the moment) through a third-party speaker or will it be an exclusive for their home/home mini speakers? (As Alexa has done the same restricting it to Echo devices)
Googles calling feature is available in Canada as well. I really miss it from my google homes (got rid of them in favor of outfiting every room in the house with sonos ones because I was told google assistant woukd he comming soon.. Almost a year ago.. Still waiting..) Very much hope this feature will he on sonos
Well, that’s why announcing if this is planned in the roadmap or denied by Google would be useful: shall I delay my purchase and upgrade to play ones, or just add home minis to my existing plays 1/3/5 to make sure I don’t get locked out of voice calling.

In relation to my unanswered post on the previous page, knowing if we’ll be able to use both Alexa and google assistant at the same time would be great too
Not sure what the attraction is. I have two Google speakers, which I rarely use. Prefer Alexa. I suppose Alexa is just so much more natural and nicer to say than "OK, Google!", or "Hey Siri!". When Alexa can't answer something (getting rarer all the time) is about the only time I resort to asking Google. Siri is hopelessly dumb.
Well, that’s why announcing if this is planned in the roadmap or denied by Google would be useful: shall I delay my purchase and upgrade to play ones, or just add home minis to my existing plays 1/3/5 to make sure I don’t get locked out of voice calling.





I probably would split the difference. I'd get some mini's to place in the same room as the 3s and 5s, and wait on the play:1s. After the features of the Google integration is announced, I decided whether a Sonos One is worth replacing the play:1s or if I'd rather just go worth more minis.
Not sure what the attraction is. I have two Google speakers, which I rarely use. Prefer Alexa. I suppose Alexa is just so much more natural and nicer to say than "OK, Google!", or "Hey Siri!". When Alexa can't answer something (getting rarer all the time) is about the only time I resort to asking Google. Siri is hopelessly dumb.



.. And thats not even getting into all the new google festures like the ability to have a continuous conversation without using the wakeword

Which Alexa released already. But I'm really in two minds. I initially purchased Alexa but returned her as I couldn't get her to work in the way I wanted and purchased a Google Home. I find the voice request of a general search much better from Google but for control of a Smart Home I think Alexa has the lead currently and so I purchased Alexa again after getting the Sonos One.

As with all technical echo systems, they ebb and flow with functionality. At the moment I think that Alexa has the lead and the momentum but who knows where next.
Not sure what the attraction is. I have two Google speakers, which I rarely use. Prefer Alexa. I suppose Alexa is just so much more natural and nicer to say than "OK, Google!", or "Hey Siri!". When Alexa can't answer something (getting rarer all the time) is about the only time I resort to asking Google. Siri is hopelessly dumb.



I agree with one point: the wake word Ok, google is dope.

But in the U.K., Alexa lags backwards: no continuous conversation, no voice profile recognition, and getting general answers from Wikipedia or opening hours is way better with google.

+ thé free calling feature on the home is quite a game changer as it replaces a landline.



As a main Alexa user for my smart home this is why I want to know if from times to times, using a play one, i’ll be able to use google assistant by just using the wake word, so if Sonos will be able’ to listen to both... otherwise it will have indeed no advantage over using a play 1 with a google mini on the side
When oh When is this google assistant integration going to be upon us? I've got 2 One's and can't wait.........
I'm still eagerly waiting for this feature as well
I'm holding out too...

I have 2 x Google Home Mini's, Philips Hue and TP Link Wi-Fi Plugs which all integrate into Google Assistant...

Can't be bothered to setup Alexa to then have to change back to Google...

Please hurry up SONOS 🙂


But in the U.K., Alexa lags backwards: no continuous conversation, no voice profile recognition, and getting general answers from Wikipedia or opening hours is way better with google.

+ thé free calling feature on the home is quite a game changer as it replaces a landline.





Echo also has calling. I use Echo Show for video calls to extended family all the time, with excellent voice quality. Google has nothing comparable, yet, though they've been making noises about a video version for ages. Alexa has no problem accessing WikiPedia, or store hours here in the US. Pretty sure it does profiles, too, though i've not set it up.



The thousands of skills available for the Echo range puts it leagues ahead of the competition. Too bad Sonos only supports a fraction of them.


Echo also has calling. I use Echo Show for video calls to extended family all the time, with excellent voice quality. Google has nothing comparable, yet, though they've been making noises about a video version for ages. Alexa has no problem accessing WikiPedia, or store hours here in the US. Pretty sure it does profiles, too, though i've not set it up.



The thousands of skills available for the Echo range puts it leagues ahead of the competition. Too bad Sonos only supports a fraction of them.

Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

Echo has calling Echo to Echo only (At least in the UK that is)

Google Home has calling to Landlines & Mobiles. For free. In the US/UK/Canada.

In the UK Store hours from Alexa are patchy. Google Home uses the Google maps database which is way more complete and accurate.



Voice profiles are great. It allows requests like "what's in my calendar?" from different members of the house with personalised responses. Also prevents unauthorized access to your account, for ordering an Uber or buying something off Amazon for instance.

This feature was rolled probably 9 months ago in the US, but the UK version is still missing it.. not sure what's taking so long to roll an existing US feature onto the UK version of Alexa.

But at the same time Google Home had it out of the box since its release here... so definitely, from a UK perspective, Alexa is trailing behind, while at least GH is delivering the same experience to its users from both sides of the Atlantic.
Alexa can call any phone number in the US, Canada or Mexico, since last year.



https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/9/29/16387398/amazon-echo-free-voice-calls-us-canada-mexico



Alexa also has voice profiles.



https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=202199440



Its hundreds of skills put it far ahead of the competition.
Alexa can call any phone number in the US, Canada or Mexico, since last year.



https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/9/29/16387398/amazon-echo-free-voice-calls-us-canada-mexico



Alexa also has voice profiles.



https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=202199440



Its hundreds of skills put it far ahead of the competition.Yes I know, and good for you. But as I previously said, none of these Alexa features are available in the UK yet... while Google Home rolled them out here... currently making Alexa an inferior product for UK users.
I bought a Sonos one after contacting Sonos about the support for google assistant. Sonos, do you have any updates on this? I am eagerly looking forward to this.

Alexa service for sonos is still not enabled in India. Indian users are still waiting for it.
But back to the topic, I'd love to know if Sonos plans to allow us to summon either assistant just by continuously listening to both the different wake words: "Alexa", or "OK Google" (which would be great as I know some requests are better handled by a specific service), or if we'll have to go into settings and lock down the speakers to a specific assistant, in that case the Play One/Beam will only listen to a single wake word/service?
Yes I know, and good for you. But as I previously said, none of these Alexa features are available in the UK yet... while Google Home rolled them out here... currently making Alexa an inferior product for UK users.



Starting today, Alexa will be using the same service for business service listings as Google Assistant and Siri.



https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-25/amazon-expands-alexa-s-brain-with-yext-business-service-listings
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