Alexa for Business

Main articles:

• Smart speakers Voice assistants (global market)
• Smart speakers Voice assistants (Russian market)

2021: Implementation in Zoom certified Poly devices

April 28, 2021 Poly announced the Alexa for Business service for, providing Zoom Rooms users with voice an interface for contactless device management in the era of collaboration. Learn more more. here

2020: Eliminate the vulnerability that allows you to manage your user account

On August 13, 2020, it became known that Check Point Software Technologies Ltd., a provider of cybersecurity solutions, discovered the vulnerabilities of some Amazon/Alexa subdomains, thanks to which hackers could manage the user account, access their voice history and personal data. At the end of 2019, more than 200 million devices with Alexa voice assistant were sold in the world. This technology is capable of voice interaction, can set alerts, play music, and manage smart home devices. Users can extend the capabilities of Alexa by installing additional features in the form of voice applications. However, personal data stored in user accounts, as well as access to the smart home system, make the Alexa application an attractive target for hackers.

Check Point researchers have identified vulnerabilities in some Amazon Alexa subdomains. Due to these vulnerabilities, fraudsters could attack the target user by sending him a malicious link. After the victim followed the link, hackers had the following opportunities:

• Access to victim's personal information, such as bank history, user names, telephone numbers, and home address;
• Access to Alexa user voice history;
• The ability to install and uninstall applications without the knowledge of the user;
• Access the list of additional features in the Alexa user account.

Smart speakers and virtual assistants seem so unsung that, sometimes, we lose sight of their role in managing a smart home, as well as how much personal data they store. For this reason, hackers see such applications as entry points to people's lives, thanks to which they can access personal data, eavesdrop on conversations and perform other malicious actions without the knowledge of the user, "explained Oded Vanunu, head of vulnerability research at Check Point Software Technologies. - The aim of our research is to highlight the need to ensure the safety of devices such as Alexa. Fortunately, Amazon experts quickly fixed vulnerabilities in Amazon/Alexa subdomains. We hope that manufacturers of such devices will follow the example of Amazon and check their products for vulnerabilities that can potentially compromise user privacy.

The Check Point team reported Amazon vulnerabilities found in June 2020, which were soon quickly fixed.

2019: Integration with Polycom RealPresence Trio

On April 18, 2019, the company Plantronics announced the integration of two solutions - Amazon Web Services (AWS) Amazon Chime and Alexa for Business - with a phone for. conferencing Trio The combination of these products will help users easily and comfortably hold meetings with voice commands to manage meetings and activate third-party devices. More here

2018

Call booking function

On October 9, 2018, Amazon announced the introduction of the function to reserve conference rooms in hands-free mode in the voice assistant Alexa for Business. Working with Echo, Echo Dot and Echo Plus speakers, users can simply ask "Alexa, is there a free room for negotiations?," and Alexa will find possible options. In addition, users can check with Alexa, booked or free a specific conference room at a certain time, as well as clarify who booked it, if possible.

According to a post on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) blog, the application for booking conference rooms will soon be available to all users. Beta is already in use by software company Joan and Robin.

Voice Assistant for Business Alexa Learned to Book Conversations

To enable conference room backup, Alexa for Business users must reconnect their G Suite or Office 365 calendar account or make an entry in the Microsoft Exchange calendar.

Reservation of meeting rooms was not previously used in the work of Alexa voice assistant, but this is not a new invention. Previously, customers used Teem technologies to coordinate the booking of meeting rooms and manage smart devices. Now just say "Alexa join the meeting" so that the voice assistant will synchronize with other devices in this conference room.

Several large companies actively use Alexa for Business in the workplace, including Condé Nast, Valence, Capital One and Brooks Brothers. The Alexa for Business platform itself is one of many ways to use Amazon voice assistants outside the home. Amazon has also launched Alexa for Hospitality and is considering installing Echo Dots in student dormitories with the consent of college management.^[1]

Introduction to Acer PCs and projectors

On January 8, 2018, Acer announced the appearance of Amazon Alexa voice assistant in a number of Aspire, Spin, Switch and Swift series laptops, as well as Aspire series all-in-ones since the first quarter of 2018. Initially, Amazon Alexa will be available to American users through an appropriate software update in the Acer Care Center application, the global introduction of voice assistant is expected in mid-2018.

A sound processor with Intel Smart Sound Technology was designed specifically for voice and speech processing in general. This allowed laptops and Acer PCs to get Amazon Alexa support. Processing user commands will be fast, accurate and will not affect the overall performance of the system, according to the company.

Owners of Acer laptops and desktops that support Amazon Alexa will be able to ask Alexa to check the calendar, create a list or answer a question, include favorite music, podcasts or audiobooks, configure the brightness of light, indoor temperature and home electronics in a smart home using voice commands.

Acer laptops, such as the Switch 7 Black Edition and Spin 5 with Acer Purified.Voice technology and four microphones, recognize commands for Alexa from a distance of 9 feet (2.74 meters), while other models with two microphones will hear the user from about 3 feet (0.91 meters). In addition, all Alexa-supporting transformers and 2-in-1 models are equipped with four front speakers with surround sound.

In addition, 4K UHD projectors Acer V6820M/i received support from Amazon Alexa. Now users can control projectors through Acer Projector Smart Home by simply asking Alexa on an Acer computer or using Amazon Echo: "Alexa, turn on the projector," "Alexa, choose an HDMI source for the projector," "Alex, change the mode of operation of the projector to bright."

2017: Announcement

On November 30, 2017, Amazon announced a voice assistant for corporate users. The presentation of the product called Alexa for Business was held as part of the annual Amazon Web Services re: Invent conference.

According to the developers, the Alexa for Business service performs many routine personnel functions, so that company employees can focus on more important matters. The virtual assistant can use simple voice commands to schedule a meeting, book a meeting room and manage the equipment in it. In addition, the service will help guests find a way to the conference hall or dining room, notify technical support about a broken printer, place an order for stationery, make business notes, change the schedule of business meetings  on the calendar and much more.

Alexa for Business Presentation

 Amazon believes that Alexa will be able to make the work of offices, especially large ones, more coherent  and well-established.  The program can be said "Alexa, start a meeting,"  and it will launch video conferencing equipment, call the right people  and connect them to the broadcast.

To implement Alexa for Business, you need to purchase an Echo device and pay for a special subscription, the cost of which depends on the number of registered users. The equipment is not tied to a specific user, so anyone nearby can access it. However, the client can restrict access if desired.

Alexa for Business supports integration with Microsoft  Exchange,   RingCentral,Salesforce,SAP   Concur, and SuccessFactors software.

The sphere of voice commands as an intelligent user interface is just emerging, "said IDC analyst David Schubmel, adding that Amazon's service" opens access to the corporate sector in addition to the consumer sector[2]