Most people probably think of Amazon and Best Buy as fierce competitors, but today the two companies announced that they're teaming up.
Amazon and Best Buy are forming a "multi-year collaboration" to bring Fire TV products to more consumers. Best Buy will launch more than 10 4K and HD Fire TV Edition televisions from manufacturers like Toshiba and Insignia. These TVs come with Fire TV software built-in, include a Voice Remote with Alexa, and can be paired with an Echo device for hands-free control.
The first TVs will become available in the U.S. this summer, starting with a Toshiba model. Additional TVs will launch through 2018, and consumers in Canada will be able to get Fire TV Edition televisions later in 2018. They'll be sold in Best Buy stores and on BestBuy.com, and perhaps more interestingly, Best Buy will also sell the TVs on Amazon as a third-party seller.
It's kind of a surprise to see Amazon and Best Buy working together because they're competing retailers, but the move could benefit them both. For Amazon, customers will have the chance to try the Fire TV experience before they buy when they visit a Best Buy store, while Best Buy could get a sales boost thanks to their presence on Amazon.
Do you have a smart TV? If not, are you interested in buying one?