Amazon's Echo smart speaker with Bluetooth wireless connectivity and a digital personal assistant has added support for Spotify Premium users via the Alexa app for Android and iOS. Uber also announced on February 5, Friday that the ride-sharing service's application program interface (API) is now now works with the tech giant's smart home hub.       

Like Us on Facebook

Amazon's Internet of Things (IoT) device can already make shopping lists and take notes through its voice recognition tech, according to Wired. However, Echo's music library is no longer limited to tunes in Amazon Music or Pandora.

Fans of rock, jazz, country, and classical music can now ask Alexa to play Spotify Premium songs. After Spotify subscribers sign in they can command the smart hub to play their favorite tunes.

Echo's new functionality also includes Spotify Connect. It allows a smooth transition from tunes in mobile devices to the Echo smart speaker.

Amazon's Prime Music already includes over a million songs. However, Spotify's music collection includes over 30 million tunes, so adding the competitor's titles to its repertoire is a big plus for the tech giant's IoT gadget.

Echo also now allows users to call an Uber. They can use one of several voice commands in order to "request" or "get" a lift from the ride-sharing service, according to The Verge.

The partnership between Amazon and Uber represents both companies' attempt to team up with other platforms. Amazon is trying to show its smart speaker has more features than Microsoft's Cortana and Apple's Siri virtual assistants. Meanwhile, the Uber app has made it the top ride-hail transportation service.  

Matt Wyndowe is head of Uber's product partnerships. He explained that Echo's Alexa is the perfect tool when people are running late and their smartphone is charging or they are not mobile phone experts.   

Wyndowe pointed out that the company used to advertise Uber users just had to push a button to get a ride. However, Amazon's Alexa allows them to order an Uber without lifting a finger.  

Amazon Echo is a wireless tube-shaped speaker with a 7-piece microphone. It was launched in November 2014.

The smart home hub contains a Texas Instruments processor and 4 gigabytes of storage space. It includes dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.