MUMBAI: All India Radio has launched Amazon Echo dot Device on Alexa in 14 different Indian languages.  This is a voice service led by artificial intelligence capable of giving crystal clear audio quality of radio services to the desiring audiences irrespective of where they are in the world. 

The launch was done by the Hon’ble Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Youth Affairs and Sports Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore today, the 28 September, 2018 at 3.00 pm in the Fielden Hall of Akashvani Bhawan on the Parliament Street, New Delhi.  Those who attended included Dr. A. Surya Prakash, Chairman Prasar Bharati, Shri Shashi Shekhar Vempati, Chief Executive Officer Prasar Bharati, Shri F. Sheheryar, Director General All India Radio, Ms. Supriya Sahu, Director General Doordarshan, Shri C.B.S. Maurya, Engineer-in-Chief All India Radio and Directors General of News for Doordarshan and All India Radio. 

On the occasion, Shri F. Sheheryar, Director General All India Radio outlined the need to have such services through Amazon Alexa in view of the country making fast strides in the direction of digital India.  Shri Rajiv Sawhney, Principal Business Development Manager, Amazon and Shri Dilip R.S., Country Manager, Alexa Skills in India made a Power Point Presentation on types of devices and impact thereof apart from services available, reach and functional instructions.  They also highlighted significance of voice in transforming people’s lives. 

Speaking at the launch, Amazon India Country Manager for Alexa Skills Dilip R.S, “Listening to music, news and utility messaging is one of the most popular capabilities on Alexa.  Customers love how convenient it is to simply ask Alexa to play songs based on their preferences in different personal and family moments.”

“I’m excited that customers can now listen music, news & utility, public service messages from All India Radio in 14 languages, with over 17 Alexa skills.  You can start with just asking ‘Alexa, open All India Radio FM Gold’ to relieve old melodies,” he further added.

Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore, the Hon’ble Minister, congratulated Amazon and All India Radio for this unique partnership with the public service broadcaster and expressed his pleasure and happiness of seeing the lives of homes becoming easy through devices such as this.  All the dignitaries including the Hon’ble Minister, Chairman Prasar Bharati, Chief Executive Officer Prasar Bharati and Directors General apart from others gave voice commands to Alexa and thus the services were launched formally for the people in India and Indians abroad apart from PIOs and the larger Indian diaspora in different parts of the world.  Chairman Prasar Bharati highlighted the need to have availability of archival assets on the device to which Director General All India Radio said that exclusive news as originated by All India Radio and the archival assets of All India Radio will subsequently be brought on Alexa. 

Amazon Echo Dot, Echo, Echo Plus and Echo Spot are voice-controlled speakers designed entirely around your voice-they are always ready, hands-free, and fast.  Alexa is the brain behind Echo-since Alexa runs in the cloud, the service is always getting smarter.  Just ask, and Alexa will answer questions, play music, read the news, set timers and alarms, check the calendar, provide sports scores, control lights at home, and much more.  With Echo’s far-field voice control, you can do all this from across the room using just your voice.

Now you can listen to your favourite radio stations, All India Radio’s 17 Services in 14 Indian Languages on Alexa.  This LIVE broadcast is available for Alexa users worldwide across India, United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada.

All you need is to say the following and Alexa shall play the corresponding LIVE broadcast station.

“Alexa Open All India Radio Vividh Bharati”

“Alexa Open All India Radio FM Gold”

“Alexa Open All India Radio Kannada”

“Alexa Open All India Radio Kashmir”

“Alexa Open All India Radio Raagam” and so on.

The services of AIR available at the moment are Vividh Bharati, FM Gold, FM Rainbow, AIR Urdu, AIR Gujarati, AIR Marathi, AIR Marathi, AIR Punjabi, AIR Malayalam,AIR Tamil, AIR Telugu, AIR Kannada, AIR Bangla, AIR Raagam, AIR Odia, Radio Kashmir, AIR Assamese, North Eastern Service.