It’s been almost one year since Amazon expanded its Prime video service to over 200 countries around the world and now they’re doubling that audience with the introduction of a Fire TV Stick without it’s smart assistant Alexa.
In September, the company introduced a second-generation version of the product with added 4K and HDR support but availability still remains limited to the U.S. This new Basic Edition is an incarnation of the device without Alexa, as Alexa products aren’t yet available in many parts of the world although Amazon has just begun to ship the Echo to India and soon to Japan.
Like the previous Fire TV Stick, the Basic Edition will come with 720p and 1080p up to 60fps video output, Dolby Audio, a 1.3 GHz processor, 1 GB memory and 8 GB of storage for apps and games. The price is currently advertised at $50, although this is likely to vary depending on location.
This is the first time that a Fire Stick has been available in most parts of the world and it’s a logical move for Amazon to drive their Prime Video service.
“Last year, we made Amazon Prime Video available to customers globally, and today, we’re building on that momentum as we introduce Fire TV Stick Basic Edition to new customers around the world. This makes streaming content from apps like Prime Video fast and easy and we can’t wait to hear what customers think,” Marc Whitten, vice president of the Amazon Fire TV business, said in a statement.
