Sears begins selling Alexa-enabled appliances on Amazon

July 20 (UPI) -- Sears on Thursday announced plans to sell Kenmore-branded appliances -- including models integrated with Amazon's Alexa virtual assistant.

Sears said the full line of Alexa-enabled Kenmore Smart appliances, including refrigerators and air conditioners, became available on Thursday. The full line of Kenmore appliances is expected to be available at a later date.

"This collaboration is the first of its kind for Kenmore, broadening its accessibility to the next generation of American families outside of Sears branded retail channels," Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard Brands President Tom Park said in a statement.

When Amazon users search for appliances, Kenmore branded products will be among the top brands featured.

The terms of the deal between Sears and Amazon were not disclosed. Sears' stock jumped -- more than 10 percent -- immediately following the announcement.

"Voice is a natural interface for the smart home, so we're thrilled that customers can now simply ask Alexa to interact with their Kenmore Smart appliances," Charlie Kindel, director of Alexa Smart Home, said. "We're excited that Kenmore has added Alexa functionality to these products and we think customers will love the convenience of cooling their home, starting their laundry, and more, using only their voice."