https://www.cnet.com/news/amazons-echo-dot-finally-gets-a-refresh-after-nearly-two-years/ > The Echo Dot, first launched in March 2016, is the most affordable version of the Echo, and also the most critical to Amazon's mission to get its Alexa digital assistant into your home. The Dot, which is periodically sold at a discount for $29.99, is Amazon's best selling gadget. It's also the company's best defense against the rise in competition from rival speakers made by Google and Apple. > Amazon, like the other tech giants, are racing to get into your home because they all believe connecting the smart home is one of the next frontiers in technology. On a broader scale, the Google Home Mini was the top selling smart speaker globally in the second quarter of 2018, followed by the Echo Dot. Overall, shipments of smart home speakers hit 11.7 million globally, according to a report from Strategy Analytics on Wednesday.