Facebook smart speakers launching THIS YEAR to rival Amazon Echo?
The social media giant is reportedly working on two smart speaker devices with huge 15-inch screens
FACEBOOK could take on Amazon and Google with a smart speaker of its very own.
It's rumoured that Mark Zuckerberg's social network is working two smart speakers models set for launch in 2018.
Earlier this year, we heard rumours that Facebook was building a smart speaker screen called the Facebook Portal.
The device was supposed to work just like Amazon's Echo Show, which also has a built-in screen and can be controlled using voice commands.
But it now seems that Facebook is doubling down on its efforts to create an Echo rival, and may in fact launch two speakers.
That's according to industry news site Digitimes, which claims the two devices are being built under the codenames 'Aloha' and 'Fiona'.
The two devices are tipped to carry 15-inch touchscreens, and would come with a host of Echo-style features.
The report notes that they would "allow family and friends to stay in touch with video chat and various social features".
The Aloha model is supposedly more "sophisticated" than Fiona, and will be released under the official name of Portal.
It will supposedly feature facial recognition to identify users for accessing Facebook, courtesy of a wide-angle camera on the device's front.
It will also supposedly feature support for voice-command controls, and will offer music playback – thanks to reported deals with Sony and Universal Music.
The touchscreens are tipped to be "laptop-sized high-resolution" panels, and will be much bigger than the 7-inch display on Amazon's smart screen, the Echo Show.
Finally, the report notes that the speakers will be launched "in July at the latest", although no exact release date has been given.
Speaking to The Sun earlier this year, research firm GfK's Imran Choudhary said that the Portal needs a voice assistant or it'll be at a "significant disadvantage" compared to the Amazon Echo and Google Home.
He also said that the Portal would only appeal to people who have "already invested" in a smart speaker, making "the uptake of this device even trickier".
Tech expert Daniel Ives told The Sun that Facebook will need to avoid a "high price point", calling it "risky".
He also says that the smart speaker industry ";will be a tough nut to crack for Facebook", and that it would be "an Everest-like uphill climb to compete with the likes of Amazon".
We've asked Facebook for comment and will update this article with any response.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.