Sonos Puts Voice Into Android Controller

There are a lot of ways to control the Sonos Multi-Room Music System. Soon, you can add Android smartphones to that list.

The company just announced the Sonos Controller for Android, a free app that adds Sonos control to almost any Android smartphone. That means you can go anywhere in the house and tap into music from your digital collection, as well as more than 100,000 web radio stations, shows and podcasts, right from your phone. That music can then be played anywhere the Sonos system is set up.

Of course, that type of functionality isn’t exclusive to this product. However, Sonos is making the app a real standout, by adding in voice search. Just call out bands, albums and even song titles into the phone, and the Sonos Controller for Android app will find it.

To use Sonos Controller for Android, you’ll need a Sonos ZonePlayer, such as the Sonos S5. The app works with any Android smartphone running Android 2.1 or later with a screen size of HVGA 320 x 480, WVGA 480 x 800 or WVGA 480 x 854. Look for the app in the Android Market starting sometime in late March. Until then, there’s a sneak peek in the video below.