Samsung Electronics plans to introduce a smart speaker in the first half of 2018, entering a crowded field of voice-controlled devices.

According to a Bloomberg report, the device offer high quality audio and will be connected with home appliances such as lights and locks. The gadget will run Bixby, Samsung's digital assistant that rivals Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant. It will also synchronize with TVs, Galaxy smartphones and other Samsung devices.

Samsung will reportedly follow an agressive pricing policy forthe new device, weighing a price point around $200. Amazon's flagship Echo speaker has a list price of $100, while Apple's HomePod will cost $349 when it also goes on sale next year.

Samsung and Apple have both entered the smart speaker market after Amazon.com, which pioneered and Google soon joined.

Amazon makes money when people buy from its online store via Alexa on Echo gadgets. Google's speakers extend its search engine into the home and helps it sells products like its music services. The HomePod will be a hub for Apple to lock in users to its HomeKit smart home platform and will likely help the company increase subscriptions to its own music service.