With its invite-only beta phase behind it, Amazon Echo will be available for sale in the US next month with several new features, including connected-home options, Google Calendar, and Audible Audiobooks. After an invite-only beta period that began late last year, Amazon Echo is ready to ship to US customers on July 14. While the "smart home" product is initially designed for consumer use, its long-range voice detection capabilities and improved voice recognition could spawn applications for enterprise, government, and healthcare workers, especially in areas where hands-free functionality is required.