In a note to clients — as noted by 9to5Mac — GBH Insights says it expects Apple’s HomePod to arrive in 4-6 weeks, but that it will face an uphill climb as it seeks to compete with competitors such as Amazon and Google’s Alphabet division. The research group writes:
We will be closely watching this competitive dynamic against the likes of Amazon and Google, Apple’s aggressive marketing push, and the installed base uptake of HomePod in 1H18 as this represents a pivotal window of opportunity for Cook & Co. to establish their presence in this green field smart speaker market which could be a “gate opener” to other consumer products/functionality further down the road.
The $349 HomePod is just under seven inches tall and looks like a piece of furniture. It will be available in both space gray and white, and also acts as a hub for HomeKit devices to provide remote access to home automation.
