You can buy the Amazon Echo Dot even without an Echo

This month, Amazon introduced two new connected devices joining its growing range of hardware for the home. While the Tap is Alexa-enabled and requires a phone or tablet to work, the Echo Dot has almost everything we love about the original Echo. The Echo Dot is just a smaller version of its sibling that has a weaker built-in speaker. Amazon hopes you’ll connect the Echo Dot to the speakers you already own for a whole experience. The benefit of using your own speakers is that you’ll save money bringing home Amazon’s Alexa technology.

Amazon’s asking price for the Echo Dot is $89 and, as of right now, the only way to buy the device is through the Echo. “Alexa, order an Echo Dot” is the command Amazon wants you to use in your path to getting the Echo Dot. But there’s another way to get the new device even without an Echo nearby. All you need is a phone or tablet with the Amazon Shopping app.

Get the Amazon Shopping app from the Play Store. Enter your login credentials and mentally prepare yourself to sneak your way to pre-ordering an Echo Dot. Don’t worry, though. Nothing shady is about to go down. This is merely a workaround.
After hitting the microphone icon at the top left of the screen, Amazon will ready itself for a voice command. Utter the phrase “Add Echo Dot to cart.”
The app will now display a list of products for you to sift through and add to your cart. The Echo Dot should be at the very top of the list if Amazon heard correctly. Hit Add To Cart and we’re almost done.
Amazon will place an Echo Dot in your cart at the $89 price, and it should ship on March 31. If it goes anything like the Echo, that release date will be pushed for many orders. Amazon didn’t fulfill many Echo orders until months after its release.

That’s all! It’s as simple as giving a brief voice command to your phone or tablet. If you want the Bluetooth speaker as well, Amazon is selling the Tap for $129 without any special requirements. Both the Amazon Tap and Echo Dot will be released on March 31.

[Amazon]