Learn how to use Amazon Alexa to make calls and ship messages

Do you know you should use Alexa to name and message others?

Amazon’s Alexa calling and messaging characteristic lets you make and obtain calls, in addition to ship messages between Echo devices, the Amazon Alexa app for iOS and Android, and Fire tablets. It is a neat option to contact household and mates. The perfect half? The characteristic is totally free to make use of, as it really works over Wi-Fi on most Echo units and into Alexa apps too.

This is every little thing you’ll want to find out about it and the way it works.

Amazon Echo Present 8 (2nd Gen)

What’s Alexa calling and messaging?

The free characteristic was first launched on the original Amazon Echo Show, however Amazon has prolonged this performance to different Echo and Alexa units, so it developed what we now name “Alexa calling” or “Alexa calling and messaging”. It really works with appropriate Echo units, the Alexa app, and it really works with Fire tablets.

Not solely are you able to place a name utilizing the characteristic, however you too can go away a voice message or ship a text-based message. The perfect bit concerning the characteristic is that it is free to make use of as it really works over Wi-Fi (or cellular information in your cellphone), so that you need not put money into a chat plan.

How does Alexa calling work?

You want an Amazon account and the Alexa app on a tool working Android 8.0 (or greater), iOS 14.0 (or greater), or on an Android Hearth pill. All the things should be set-up utilizing the Alexa app, the place you may discover the Talk tab.

As soon as you have set it up through the Alexa app, you’ll use the service throughout all of your Echo and Alexa units, so long as it is enabled on every particular person system – which it’s by default. You may sync the Alexa app together with your contacts in your smartphone and this may enable Alexa to name cellphone numbers, that means you possibly can name out of your Echo to a cell phone, for instance. Alternatively, you should use Alexa to name different Echo units that your contacts have. In the event you do not sync your contacts, you possibly can solely use it to contact different Echo or Alexa units that you simply’re signed into – like an intercom system.

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Amazon Echo Present 5 (2nd Gen)

Kinds of calls

You may make the next varieties of calls:

• Alexa-to-Alexa calling: Make and obtain calls between appropriate Echo units (or the Amazon Alexa app, extra on that under). You may attain anybody out of your cell phone’s contacts checklist who has a appropriate Echo system and who has additionally signed up for Alexa Calling.
• Cellular or landline calling: You may name most cellular or landline numbers within the UK, US, Canada, and Mexico from a appropriate Echo system, use Alexa to achieve supported numbers saved to your cell phone’s contacts checklist, or, say the quantity you wish to name.
• Alexa app calling: With the Amazon Alexa app in your Android or iOS smartphone (not accessible on a pill), you can also make calls to cellular or landline numbers within the US, Canada, and Mexico. This offers you the flexibility to make and obtain calls between anybody out of your cellphone’s contacts checklist who has the Alexa app or a appropriate Echo system, and who has additionally signed up for Alexa Calling and Messaging.
• Worldwide calls: You may make and obtain worldwide calls between appropriate Echo units and the Amazon Alexa app. Simply be sure that the contact you wish to attain is in a location that additionally helps Alexa Calling, has signed up for Alexa Calling and Messaging, and is listed in your contacts checklist within the Amazon Alexa app.
• Group calling: You may setup teams for calling within the Alexa app with as much as seven individuals, so you possibly can then name these teams instantly.

Be aware: Alexa doesn’t assist calls to emergency service numbers (“911”), premium-rate numbers (“1-900” numbers), three-digit numbers or abbreviated dial codes, worldwide numbers (outdoors of the US, UK, Canada, and Mexico), and dial-by-letter numbers (“1-800-FLOWERS”).

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Arrange Alexa calling

To get began with Alexa calling for the primary time, you want to enroll in it:

1. Open the Amazon Alexa app (in your appropriate iOS or Android cellphone).
2. Open the Talk tab from the underside menu.
3. Comply with the on-screen directions to enter and confirm your cellphone info.

Alexa makes use of your cellphone’s tackle e book to search out individuals you recognize who’ve the Amazon Alexa app with Alexa Calling enabled, so that you could name them that means, too.

So as to add or edit contacts for Alexa Calling, replace your cellphone’s native tackle e book after which open the Amazon Alexa app. Contacts out of your tackle e book who additionally use Alexa Calling will auto-appear in your “Contacts” checklist within the app, with the identical names out of your tackle e book.

You may mechanically sync you cellphone’s tackle e book, or you possibly can manually add contacts, block contacts, add teams – or you possibly can restrict entry to your favorite contacts, in case you’ve designated contacts as favourites in your tackle e book.

Place and obtain calls utilizing an Echo

To start out a name from a appropriate Echo system, simply ask Alexa to name the individual or group you wish to attain by identify. You’ll need to say their identify precisely the way it seems in your Alexa app. Whenever you name somebody, it’s going to ring their Alexa app and Echo system, however you possibly can specify to position calls to a cellular quantity, for instance. Alexa is affirm who you wish to name earlier than placing that decision by way of.

You may dial numbers instantly as properly, by saying every digit (together with the world code) of the quantity you wish to name. Simply bear in mind Alexa uses voice profiles to find out who’s making a name. If in case you have a voice profile and Alexa is ready to recognise your voice, your contacts checklist is mechanically used.

You may name a contact by way of the Alexa app too. Simply choose the Talk icon on the house display, then faucet the Contact icon within the higher nook, and faucet on a contact. You may then place your name.

All of your incoming calls or messages are additionally put by way of to your Alexa app and Echo units. Your Echo units will sound an alarm and announce who is asking, whereas your Alexa app will serve up a notification. Simply say “Reply” or reply out of your cellphone to just accept the decision. Alternatively, you possibly can say “Ignore” or ignore it out of your cellphone. On units with screens, you may even have settle for or reject buttons on the display. Whenever you wish to finish a name, you possibly can say “Dangle up” or faucet the tip button in your cellphone.

Whereas a name is energetic, the lights in your Echo system will glow inexperienced.

Listed below are some Alexa instructions you possibly can say:

• Make a name to a different Echo system: “Alexa, name [Corey]” or “Alexa, name my [Family]”
• Make a name to a cellular or landline quantity saved to your contacts: “Alexa, name [John’s] cellular” or “Alexa, name [Chris] on his residence cellphone” or “Alexa, name [Brandon] at work” or “Alexa, name [Mom’s] workplace”.
• Dial a cellular or landline quantity: “Alexa, name [number].”
• Management name quantity: “Alexa, flip the quantity up / down.”
• Dangle up / finish the decision: “Alexa, hold up” or “Alexa, finish name.”
• Reply the decision: Simply say, “Reply.”
• Ignore the decision: Simply say, “Ignore.”

The lights in your Echo will keep inexperienced every time a name is related, however in case you’re already on a name and one other name is available in, the brand new name will likely be mechanically despatched to a different supported system in your family.

Amazon Echo Dot (fifth Gen)

Place a name utilizing the Alexa app

To name your contacts and supported cellular and landline cellphone numbers:

1. Open the Amazon Alexa app in your cellphone.
2. Choose Talk from the underside navigation bar.
3. Choose the Name button on the prime.
4. Choose the contact you wish to attain after which choose their quantity or Alexa audio name or video call. In the event you’re each utilizing a tool with a display (like Echo Present or Echo Spot), you may see the choice to begin a video name.
5. To finish the decision, choose the Finish button on-screen.

What else are you able to do with Alexa calling?

Ship a voice message

Voice messages are form of like voicemails. To ship a voice message with the Alexa app, choose the Talk icon. You may decide an current dialog or faucet the Message icon on the prime of the Talk display. Then faucet the blue microphone button on the backside of the display to ship a brand new voice message. It is going to be despatched to your good friend’s Alexa app and Echo system.

To ship a voice message with an Echo system, say “Alexa, ship [name of contact] a message”. To entry your voice messages, go to the Talk display of the Alexa app or say to your Echo, “Alexa, play my messages.”

Ship a textual content messages

To ship a textual content message with the Alexa app it is principally the identical process as above. Choose the Talk icon, then decide an current dialog or faucet the Messages icon on the prime. On the following display, as a substitute of talking your message, kind it. Your textual content will likely be pushed to your good friend’s Alexa app or Echo system, and they’re going to get a notification, too.

Allow Don’t disturb

If you wish to block Alexa from alerting you about calls and messages, activate Do Not Disturb. Say, “Alexa, do not disturb me.” It’s also possible to schedule Do Not Disturb within the Alexa app (Settings > All units > Choose your system > Do Not Disturb > Scheduled).

Drop In on a contact

Drop In is a characteristic that can be utilized with Echo Present or Echo Spot. Amazon says that, typically you may most likely choose to make use of video calling, however Drop In can also be accessible so you possibly can simply verify in with an aged relative or verify a digicam within the nursery. You will not must name another person, however can merely entry the digicam on one other Echo Present system.

You may decide and select which Echo units Drop In is obtainable on, and you may select which contacts can have the privileges to Drop In on it. In order for you, you possibly can choose to not enable anybody to, or limit it to your family, for instance. We have a full guide for how to set up and use Drop In.

Make an announcement

With Alexa Announcements, you possibly can ask Alexa to make bulletins on all appropriate Echo units in your family. Consider it as a one-way intercom. Folks close by an Echo in your family will hear a brief chime to point there’s an incoming announcement, after which the announcement will play within the voice of whoever is making the announcement. Cool, proper?

To create an Alexa Announcement, merely say “Alexa, announce”, after which say your announcement aloud. It’s also possible to say “Alexa, broadcast”, and once more, tack in your voice message on the finish. So, for example, you possibly can say, “Alexa, broadcast ‘the film is beginning.'” Everybody in your house inside earshot of an Echo system will hear a chime adopted by you saying, “the film is beginning.”

For some phrases Alexa will add sound results if it recognises specific set off phrases, like “Alexa, announce, dinner is prepared”.

From the Alexa app in your cellphone, you too can go to Talk from the underside navigation bar, after which choose the Bulletins button on the prime to provoke a broadcast. You may be given the choice to kind or converse your announcement aloud, and it will immediately play in your units.

Amazon

Does Amazon nonetheless promote Echo Join?

Nope. Amazon quietly discounted its Echo Connect accessory. You would use it with a supported Echo system to make and obtain cellphone calls by way of your private home cellphone service. Amazon did not cost you to position or obtain a name with Echo Join, although you continue to wanted to purchase a house cellphone landline or VoIP package deal out of your native telecom supplier. In the event you personal this previous accent, Amazon has a FAQ page that particulars the way it works.