https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/20/up-close-with-amazons-60-alexa-microwave/

Amazon was quick to note at today’s event that not all that much has been done to update the microwave for the 21st century. While that’s probably a pretty fair criticism of the ubiquitous home appliance, the new AmazonBasics microwave is less about space age technologies than it is helping usher in the future of Alexa in the kitchen.

Like last year’s Echo Buttons, the company says the product start off an an internal reference design. In other words, the company didn’t set out to build a microwave for consumers, per, say. Rather, it seems it was happy enough with its results to bring the product to market under its low-cost AmazonBasics line.