Amazon Echo connects to the Alexa Voice Service to let you play music, control smart home devices, make hands-free calls and text messages, get weather, news and sports information, and more with just the sound of your voice.

The benefits seem endless but here are details on a few:

• Connects to Alexa - a cloud-based voice service that keeps on getting smarter to deliver new features and capabilities like controlling your TV, requesting an Uber, ordering a pizza

• Call or message anyone hands-free

• Compatible with Belkin WeMo, Philips Hue, SmartThings, Insteon, Wink, and more to let you control smart lights, thermostats, sprinklers, etc.

• 360 degree omni-directional audio fills rooms with crisp, immersive sound like never before and compatible with Pandora, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Amazon Music, Prime Music, and more

• Allows you to manage shopping and to-do-lists by placing orders online, setting reminders, and asking questions hands-free