How To Set Up Alexa Phone Calls

Amazon now offers an Alexa-powered calling and messaging service.

It'south a new style to contact family and friends who likewise have Echo devices in their home or the Alexa app installed on the iOS or Android device. The all-time part? The feature is completely gratuitous to employ, as it works over Wi-Fi and cellular data, and then you lot don't need to invest in a mobile talk plan. Here's everything y'all need to know almost it, including how to set it upwardly and starting time placing calls or sending messages.

What is Amazon Alexa calling?

Called Alexa-to-Alexa calling and messaging, the complimentary service was introduced past Amazon in May, when it unveiled its latest Echo-branded speaker, the Echo Prove, which has a display and is focused around letting users place audio and video calls. To extend such functionality to other Echo devices, Amazon developed calling for Alexa. Information technology helps you lot continue in touch with friends who accept a supported Echo device or the Alexa app on their iOS or Android telephone. Non but can you place a call using the service, but yous can also exit a voice message or text bulletin.

What do you need to apply Amazon Alexa calling?

To call, you lot need an Amazon account, a valid mobile phone number, and the Alexa app on a device running Android five.0 (or higher) or iOS 9.0 (or higher). The service needs to be gear up up using the Alexa app (it verifies your number), but you can also call using but the app. Alternatively, afterwards fix, you lot can use the service with an Repeat or Echo Dot.

How does Amazon Alexa calling work?

Set upward

Download the Amazon Alexa app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Shop, or make sure you're running the latest version of the app on your device. To sign up for the servce in the Alexa app, simply open the app, then select the Conversation icon on the abode screen, and follow the prompts on the screen. You volition exist asked to confirm your proper noun, enable access to your contact list, and verify your telephone number through SMS. Amazon said Alexa uses your phone's address book to find people you know who take the Alexa app or a supported Echo device. As well, the feature can use telephone data but doesn't utilise text letters and minutes from your mobile phone plan.

Identify a call

To identify a call via the Alexa app, select the Conversation icon on the home screen, then tap the Contact icon in the upper corner. Doing so will show your contacts who have the Alexa app or a supported Echo device. Simply tap on a contact and so you volition see an option to place a call.

To place a call via your Echo, say "Alexa, telephone call [name of contact]." The contact will need to exist listed under the Contact screen of the Alexa app, and you volition need to say their name exactly how it appears in the app -- or else Alexa won't empathise your command. When you call someone, it will ring through their Alexa app and their Echo device, and they can answer on either.

Same thing goes for you. All incoming calls or messages are delivered to your Alexa app equally well every bit supported Echo devices registered to your Amazon account. When you receive a call, your Echo device will sound an alert and glow, and your Alexa app will notify you too. You can choose to answer or ignore the call. You lot can respond the call by saying "Answer" or by answering from your phone. If you don't desire to answer the call, you lot tin can say "Ignore" or ignore it from your phone. If y'all go a call while yous're already on a different call, the incoming call will only go to a unlike Echo device. There is no fourth dimension limit to a telephone call. When you want to stop your phone call, you can say "Hang up" or select the end push from your phone. Lastly, while your telephone call is active, the lights on your Echo will glow green.

Send a voice message

To send a voice bulletin via the Alexa app, select the Conversation icon on the home screen. Your existing conversations will appear on the Conversations screen. You lot tin can as well tap the Start Conversation icon in the corner of the Conversations screen and then select a contact to start a conversation. Whichever method you use, a divide screen will popular up for that contact, and if you've already communicated with them using Alexa'southward calling service, you will see a history of your vocalisation messages. Tap the blueish microphone button at the bottom of the screen to send a new vocalisation message. It volition be delivered to your friend's Alexa app and Repeat device. One time again, they will become a notification from the app or the lights on their Echo device will glow.

To send a phonation message via an Echo device, simply say "Alexa, send [name of contact] a message," and so tell Alexa the message. Anyone can access their voice messages from the Conversations screen of the Alexa app or by maxim to their Echo "Alexa, play my messages."

Send a text message

To send a text message via the Alexa app, select the Chat icon on the dwelling house screen. Your existing conversations volition appear on the Conversations screen. You can also tap the Commencement Conversation icon in the corner of the Conversations screen and so select a contact to start a chat. Whichever method yous use, a separate screen will popular up for that contact, and if you've already communicated with them using Alexa's calling service, you will see a history of your messages. Tap the keyboard button nigh the microphone at the lesser of the screen to send a new text bulletin. It volition exist delivered to your friend's Alexa app, and, they will get a notification.

Practise Not Disturb

Amazon offers a Do Not Disturb function so that you lot can block Alexa from alerting you about calls and messages. To turn on Do Not Disturb say, "Alexa, don't disturb me." To plow off the feature say, "Plow off Practice Not Disturb." You tin also schedule Practise Not Disturb for specific days and times in the Alexa app. Select Settings from the Card, and then select your device, and Under Do Non Disturb, select Scheduled. From there, apply the slider to turn on or off Do Not Disturb, so select Edit to change the time it begins or ends, and select Save Changes. Keep in mind Do Non Disturb is not bachelor on Alexa devices from other manufacturers.

What else can y'all practise?

That's it for now. Even so, Amazon said it plans to eventually innovate telephone call waiting, also as the ability to transfer calls betwixt devices, place calls on hold, leave voicemails (different from voice messages), and identify a three-way call.

Where is Amazon Alexa calling bachelor?

At launch, the feature is but available in the US.