Amazon Alexa calling and messaging: What is it, how does it work, and where can you use it? | Apps news

Did you know you can use Alexa to call and message others? Amazon’s Alexa calling and messaging feature enables you to make and receive calls, as well as send messages between Echo devices, the Amazon Alexa app for iOS and Android and Fire tablets.

It’s a new way to contact family and friends. The best part? The feature is completely free to use, as it works over Wi-Fi and cellular data. Here’s everything you need to know.

What is Alexa calling and messaging?

Technically called Alexa-to-Alexa calling and messaging, the free feature was first introduced on the Amazon Echo Show. That device has a display and is capable of letting users place audio and video calls.

But Amazon wanted to extend this functionality to other Echo devices, so developed the Alexa calling and messaging feature for supported Echo devices and the Alexa for iOS or Android app for phones or tablets. It also works with Fire tablets as well. 

Not only can you place a call using the service, but you can also leave a voice message or text message. The best bit about the new feature is that it’s free to use as it works over Wi-Fi and mobile data, so you don’t need to invest in a talk plan.

How does Alexa calling and messaging work?

You need an Amazon account, a mobile phone number, and the Alexa app on a device running Android 5.0 (or higher), iOS 9.0 (or higher) or on an Android Fire tablet. 

Everything must be set up using the Alexa app, as it needs to verify your number and sync your contacts. The feature also works with all current Echo devices, so if you have an Echo Dot or Echo, you can call or message another Echo users and vice versa.

Compatible devices

• Amazon Echo
• Amazon Echo Dot
• Amazon Echo Show
• Amazon Echo Spot
• Amazon Echo Plus
• Alexa app (on Android, iOS or Fire tablet)

Types of calls

You can make the following types of calls:

• Alexa-to-Alexa calling – Make and receive calls between compatible Echo devices (or the Amazon Alexa app, more on that below). You can reach anyone from your mobile phone’s contacts list who has a compatible Echo device and who has also signed up for Alexa Calling.
• Mobile or landline calling – You can call most mobile or landline numbers in the US, Canada, and Mexico from a compatible Echo device, use Alexa to reach supported numbers saved to your mobile phone’s contacts list, or, say the number you want to call.
• Alexa app calling – With the Amazon Alexa app on your Android or iOS smartphone (not available on a tablet), you can make calls to mobile or landline numbers in the US, Canada, and Mexico. This gives you the ability to make and receive calls between anyone from your phone’s contacts list who has the Alexa app or a compatible Echo device, and who has also signed up for Alexa Calling and Messaging.
• International calls – You can make and receive international calls between compatible Echo devices and the Amazon Alexa app Just make sure the contact you want to reach is in a location that also supports Alexa Calling, has signed up for Alexa Calling and Messaging, and is listed in your contacts list in the Amazon Alexa app.

Sign up for Alexa Calling and Messaging

Now, to get started with Alexa Calling, you need to sign up for it:

1. Open the Amazon Alexa app (on your compatible iOS or Android phone)
2. Open the Conversations tab from the bottom menu.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to enter and verify your mobile phone information.

The Alexa Calling feature works with all current Echo devices, so if you have an Echo Dot or Echo, you can call another Echo user and vice versa. But you need an Amazon account to sign up, as well as a mobile phone number, and the Amazon Alexa app on a phone running Android 5.0 (or higher) or iOS 9.0 (or higher). Everything will be set up using the app, as it verifies your number and syncs your contacts.

So, as listed above, download the Amazon Alexa app, then open the app, and select the Conversation icon on the home screen. You need to confirm your name, then enable access to your contacts, and verify your phone number through SMS. Alexa also uses your phone’s address book to find people you know who have the Amazon Alexa app with Alexa Calling enabled, so that you can call them that way, too

To add or edit contacts for Alexa Calling, update your phone’s local address book and then open the Amazon Alexa app. Contacts from your address book who also use Alexa Calling will auto-appear in your “Contacts” list in the app, with the same names from your address book.

Make and receive calls using Echo devices

To start a call from a compatible Echo device, just ask Alexa to call the person or contact you want to reach by name. You can dial numbers directly as well, by saying each digit (including the area code) of the number you want to call. Just remember Alexa uses voice profiles to determine who is making a call. If you have a voice profile and Alexa is able to recognize your voice, your contacts list is automatically used.

You can call a contact through the Alexa app. Just select the Conversation icon on the home screen, then tap the Contact icon in the upper corner, and tap on a contact. You can then place your call. To call with your Echo, say “Alexa, call [name of contact].” You will need to say their name exactly how it appears in your Alexa app. When you call someone, it will ring their Alexa app and Echo device.

All your incoming calls or messages are also put through to your Alexa app and Echo devices. Your Echo devices will sound an alarm, while your Alexa app will serve up a notification. Just say “Answer” or answer from your phone to accept the call. Alternatively, you can say “Ignore” or ignore it from your phone. When you want to end a call, you can say “Hang up” or tap the end button on your phone.

While a call is active, the lights on your Echo device will glow green.

Here are some Alexa commands you can say:

• Make a call to another Echo device: “Alexa, call (Corey)”.
• Make a call to a mobile or landline number saved to your contacts: “Alexa, call (John’s) mobile” or “Alexa, call (Chris) on his home phone” or “Alexa, call (Brandon) at work” or “Alexa, call (Mom’s) office”.
• Dial a mobile or landline number: “Alexa, call [number]”.
• Control call volume: “Alexa, turn the volume up / down.”
• Hang up / end the call: “Alexa, hang up” or “Alexa, end call”.
• Answer the call: Just say, “Answer.”
• Ignore the call: Just say, “Ignore.”

Alexa does not currently support inbound calls from mobile or landline phones. However, when a call comes in from an Alexa contact who owns a supported Echo device, the light on all your supported Echo devices will flash green, and Alexa will announce who’s calling. If you’re using the Amazon Alexa app or a device with a screen, the contact card for the caller shows, with Answer and Ignore options to select.

The lights on your Echo will stay green whenever a call is connected, but if you’re already on a call and another call comes in, the new call will be automatically sent to another supported device in your household.

Make a call using the Amazon Alexa app

To call your contacts and supported mobile and landline phone numbers:

1. Go to the “Conversations” menu in the Amazon Alexa app.
2. Select Conversations from the bottom navigation bar.
3. Select the Contacts icon to view your available Alexa-to-Alexa contacts.
4. Select the contact you want to reach and then select Call (the “phone” icon). If you’re both using a device with a screen (like Echo Show or Echo Spot), you’ll see a Video icon you can select to start a video call.
5. To end the call, select the End button on-screen.

Voice messages

Voice messages are sort of like voicemails. To send a voice message with the Alexa app, select the Conversation icon. You can pick an existing conversation or tap the Start Conversation icon in the corner of the Conversations screen. Then tap the blue microphone button at the bottom of the screen to send a new voice message. It will be sent to your friend’s Alexa app and Echo device.

To send a voice message with an Echo device, say “Alexa, send [name of contact] a message”. To access your voice messages, go to the Conversations screen of the Alexa app or say to your Echo, “Alexa, play my messages.”

Text messages

To send a text message with the Alexa app, select the Conversation icon, then pick an existing conversation or tap the Start Conversation icon in the corner. Tap the keyboard button near the microphone at the bottom of the screen to send a new text message. It will be pushed to your friend’s Alexa app, and, they will get a notification. You cannot send or receive texts on Echo devices.

Do not disturb

If you want to block Alexa from alerting you about calls and messages, turn on Do Not Disturb. Say, “Alexa, don’t disturb me.” You can also schedule Do Not Disturb in the Alexa app (Settings > Select your device > Do Not Disturb > Scheduled).

Do Not Disturb is not available on Alexa devices from other manufacturers.

Drop In

Drop In is a feature that can be used with Echo Show. Amazon says in most case you’ll use video calling, but Drop In is there so you can easily check in with an elderly relative, let the family know dinner is ready, or check a camera in the nursery. It sounds like you won’t need to call someone else, but can simply access the camera on another Echo Show.

You can pick and choose which Echo Show devices Drop In is available on, and you can choose which contacts can have the privileges to Drop In on it. If you want, you can opt to not allow anyone to.

Can you call landline numbers?

You can use Alexa calling on tablets to phone landline numbers, providing they’re connected to an Amazon Echo Connect accessory hub, and you can call anyone in your contacts list for free, just as long as they also have the Alexa app installed on their smartphone or tablet. 

Amazon

How does Echo Connect calling work?

You can also use Amazon’s Echo Connect accessory with a supported Echo device to make and receive phone calls through your home phone service. Amazon doesn’t charge you to place or receive a call with Echo Connect, though you will still need to buy a home phone landline or VoIP package from your local telecom provider. Here’s how the accessory works and what you need for it to function.

What you need

If you want to use the $35 Echo Connect to make and receive calls through your own home phone service, you need three things: A phone landline or VoIP, a compatible Echo device (such as the Echo, Echo Plus, Echo Dot, Echo Spot, or Echo Show), and the Amazon Alexa app on your mobile device (this lets Alexa stay in sync with your phone’s address book, so it can call people and announce who is calling).

Note: Echo Connect is currently only available in the US.

Set up Echo Connect

You must connect Echo Connect to your phone line with a phone jack and then sync your contacts to the Amazon Alexa app on your phone. You’ll also need to use the Amazon Alexa app to discover and set up your Echo Connect to your compatible Echo device so that you’ll be able to simply ask Alexa (via your Echo device) to call a contact or a number using your home phone service. Easy peasy.

1. Open the Amazon Alexa app and sign up for Alexa Calling and Messaging. Learn more about that above (or from here).
2. Turn on Echo Connect. First, plug the included power adapter into Echo Connect and then into a power outlet. The power LED light on the top will be solid when it has power.
3. Connect Echo Connect to a phone jack. You need to plug one end of the included telephone cable into the back of the Echo Connect, and then plug the other end of the cable into a standard telephone jack (for landline phone service), or a Wi-Fi router (for digital phone service), or a analogue telephone adapter (for VoIP phone service)
4. If you want to share a phone jack between Echo Connect and a handset, use the included splitter. You can plug the splitter into your Echo Connect. One port of the splitter will connect to a phone jack (on the wall, VoIP adapter, or the router), and the remaining port will connect to your home phone.
5. Complete Wi-Fi setup in the Amazon Alexa app. Learn more about that from here.

Make and receive calls with Echo Connect