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The Apple HomePod was presented at a trade fair in 2017 (archive image)
Photo: JOSH EDELSON / AFP
Apple is taking its larger HomePod speaker out of the range with which the iPhone company entered the smart speaker market three years ago.
The efforts should instead be focused on the new smaller HomePod mini, as the company announced on Saturday.
The HomePods are the only networked speakers on which Apple's voice assistant Siri can be used.
The original model was significantly more expensive than competing devices from Amazon, for example, with the voice assistant Alexa.
According to market researchers, the price kept sales of the model within limits.
Even after a temporary price cut, Apple still sells the remaining HomePod stock for 329 euros.
The HomePod mini, which continues to be sold, is significantly cheaper at 99 euros.
Apple points out that technologies from the larger model have been incorporated into the development of the HomePod mini.
The discontinuation of the original HomePod leaves a flank open for Apple in the business with networked hi-fi speakers, which experienced a strong boost in the corona pandemic.
With devices from sound specialists such as Sonos, you can integrate competing voice assistants such as Alexa and the Google Assistant, but not Siri.
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wbr / dpa
