The reference design is essentially a blueprint for headset manufacturers and audio companies to use to build their own headsets for consumer release. While no manufacturers have announced plans to use the design, it’s a sign that we might see the first Alexa headsets available to purchase in 2019. Qualcomm’s design is a pretty simple set of wireless earbuds with a push button to activate Alexa, which is probably what users should expect from the first wave of products to hit the market. The design features Qualcomm’s advanced Bluetooth audio chip (QCC5100-series), which brings a range of features in addition to native Alexa support. These feature include ultra-low power consumption for increased playback time and general battery life as well as Qualcomm cVc noise reduction technology for improved audio and voice service abilities. The hardware also has the potential to support other voice assistants too, so it’s possible that some companies could instead build in support for Google Assistant or other platforms.
