Last month, we reported that social media giant Facebook is gearing up to launch its own smart speakers. Now, according to the new reports, the company could be delaying the launch of its smart speakers amid data crisis.

Facebook was reportedly going to announce its smartphone speakers at its developers’ conference in May and launch the full product in the fall. But, the company is currently facing public outrage over its data privacy practices. According to the sources, Facebook is taking time for deeper review in order to ensure that they make the right trade-offs regarding user data.

The company’s connected speakers will come with digital-assistant and video-chat capabilities and are said to be the part of Facebook’s plan to become more intimately involved with users’ everyday social lives using artificial intelligence.

As per the reports, the US-based social media giant will be launching two smart speakers — “Fiona” and “Aloha”.  Aloha, which is said to be the larger of the two, is expected to come with a 15-inch touchscreen, along with facial and voice recognition. However, very little is known about Fiona, which is supposedly coming with a Siri-like voice assistant.

Previous reports have suggested that the display panel will come from LG Display, and both units will be assembled by contract manufacturer Pegatron. Facebook has also reportedly signed music licensing deals with Sony and Universal Music to provide content.

Facebook is following the path forged by Amazon.com Inc. with the launch of its Echo in-home smart speakers. Amazon‘s smart speakers come with virtual voice assistant which can be used to control smart appliances as well as to perform various tasks.

Along with Amazon, Google has also entered the smart speakers market in 2016 with Google Home and brought its personal voice assistant Google Assistant into the mainstream. One of the latest entrants in the market is Apple with the recent launch of Apple Homepod which is also one of the most expensive units yet.

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While Facebook is reportedly delaying the launch of its smart speaker, reports indicate that the company still plans to launch the devices later this year.

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Facebook, the social media giant, is reportedly gearing up to launch its own smart speakers, which is currently one of the hottest category in the consumer electronics market.

As per the reports, the US-based social media giant could launch two smart speakers — “Fiona” and “Aloha”. The report further says that these speakers could get launched as early as in July this year.

Aloha, which is said to be the larger of the two, is expected to come with a 15-inch touchscreen, along with facial and voice recognition. However, very little is known about Fiona, which is supposedly coming with a Siri-like voice assistant.

A report suggests that Aloha will have social features by way of Facebook and Messenger. Since it is also expected to come with a touchscreen as well as camera, addition of support for video calls seem like the most obvious choice. Previously, it was said that 13-inch version of Aloha could also be in the works.

According to the report, the display panel will come from LG Display, and both units will be assembled by contract manufacturer Pegatron. Facebook has also reportedly signed music licensing deals with Sony and Universal Music to provide content.

The smart speaker category was initially started by Amazon with the launch of Amazon Echo in the year 2015. The smart speaker comes with virtual voice assistant which can be used to control smart appliances as well as to perform various tasks.

Following Amazon, Google also decided to enter the smart speakers market in 2016 with Google Home and brought its personal voice assistant Google Assistant into the mainstream. One of the latest entrant in this market is Apple with the recent launch of Apple Homepod which is also one of the most expensive unit yet.

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It appears that this year is going to be the year of smart speaker. And with so many global giants entering the market, the competition to be the leader in the smart speakers market is going to intensify.

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