LG said in a statement Alexa will work with its SmartThinkQ Hub, an LG device used to connect with home appliances over the internet, to allow users to control the South Korean firm's home appliances via voice-recognition technology.

It would add Amazon.com's Dash feature on its SmartThinQ Sensors, which enabled so-called "smart" features on appliances that cannot communicate with other devices on their own, to allow users to quickly order household items such as laundry detergent or drinks.

Jo Seung-jin, head of LG's appliances business said that his outfit will work with a wide range of partners to deliver differentiated smart-home solutions to customers.

LG is having a rought time of things at the moment so must be hoping that a big Amazon backed push into the Internet of Things will pull its nadgers from out of the fire.  It can't be worse than trying to sell smartphones.  Alexa has been a good money spinner for Amazon and was a bit of a surprise.