Apple HomePod release seems near after FCC approval

Apple seems to soon start selling the smart speaker HomePod. The necessary approval from the American watchdog FCC has now been obtained, so that delivery can in principle start.

MacRumors found that the FCC recently gave its approval to the HomePod. While this doesn’t necessarily have to say anything about the release of the smart speaker, MacRumors notes that Apple also released the iPhone X shortly after the FCC approval; this was about a month away at the time. Earlier rumors would also show that the manufacturer has now shipped the HomePods to Apple, which indicates that a release is being prepared.

Apple itself had already indicated that it would ship the first HomePods to its customers early this year. Initially this should have happened last year, but there was some delay in the release. The Cupertino company has never mentioned an exact release date.

The HomePod is a smart speaker that has to compete with Google and Amazon, who have already launched smart speakers with the Home and Echo respectively. The variant from Apple is equipped with the voice and information service Siri, and was announced during the WWDC congress.