The right way to use Amazon Alexa to make calls and ship messages

Do you know you need to use Alexa to name and message others? Amazon’s Alexa calling and messaging function 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 approach to contact household and buddies. The most effective half? The function is totally free to make use of, as it really works over Wi-Fi on most Echo units and into Alexa apps too.

Here is all the things it is advisable to learn about it and the way it works.

What’s Alexa calling and messaging?

The free function 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 function, however it’s also possible to depart a voice message or ship a text-based message. The most effective bit concerning the function is that it is free to make use of as it really works over Wi-Fi (or cellular knowledge in your telephone), 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 operating Android 8.0 (or greater), iOS 14.0 (or greater), or on an Android Hearth pill. Every little thing should be set-up utilizing the Alexa app, the place you will discover the Talk tab.

As soon as you have set it up by way of 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 machine – which it’s by default. You may sync the Alexa app along with your contacts in your smartphone and it will permit Alexa to name telephone numbers, that means you possibly can name out of your Echo to a cell phone, for instance. Alternatively, you need to use Alexa to name different Echo units that your contacts have. Should you do not sync your contacts, you possibly can solely use it to contact different Echo or Alexa units that you just’re signed in to – like an intercom system.

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Kinds of calls

You may make the next kinds 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 record who has a appropriate Echo machine 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 machine, use Alexa to achieve supported numbers saved to your cell phone’s contacts record, or, say the quantity you wish to name.
• Alexa app calling: With the Amazon Alexa app in your Android or iOS smartphone (not out there on a pill), you can also make calls to cellular or landline numbers within the US, Canada, and Mexico. This provides you the power to make and obtain calls between anybody out of your telephone’s contacts record who has the Alexa app or a appropriate Echo machine, 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 certain 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 record within the Amazon Alexa app.
• Group calling: You may setup teams for calling within the Alexa app with as much as seven folks, so you possibly can then name these teams straight.

Notice: Alexa doesn’t help calls to emergency service numbers (“911”), premium-rate numbers (“1-900” numbers), three-digit numbers or abbreviated dial codes, worldwide numbers (exterior 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 join it:

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

Alexa makes use of your telephone’s handle guide to seek out folks you recognize who’ve the Amazon Alexa app with Alexa Calling enabled, with the intention to name them that approach, too.

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

You may mechanically sync you telephone’s handle guide, or you possibly can manually add contacts, block contacts, add teams – or you possibly can restrict entry to your favorite contacts, in the event you’ve designated contacts as favourites in your handle guide.

Place and obtain calls utilizing an Echo

To begin a name from a appropriate Echo machine, simply ask Alexa to name the particular person or group you wish to attain by title. You’ll need to say their title precisely the way it seems in your Alexa app. While you name somebody, it’ll ring their Alexa app and Echo machine, however you possibly can specify to put calls to a cellular quantity, for instance. Alexa will affirm who you wish to name earlier than placing that decision by means of.

You may dial numbers straight as nicely, 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. In case you have a voice profile and Alexa is ready to recognise your voice, your contacts record is mechanically used.

You may name a contact by means of the Alexa app too. Simply choose the Talk icon on the house display screen, 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 means 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 telephone to simply accept the decision. Alternatively, you possibly can say “Ignore” or ignore it out of your telephone. On units with screens, you will even have settle for or reject buttons on the display screen. While you wish to finish a name, you possibly can say “Hold up” or faucet the top button in your telephone.

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

Listed here are some Alexa instructions you possibly can say:

• Make a name to a different Echo machine: “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 house telephone” 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 amount up / down.”
• Hold up / finish the decision: “Alexa, grasp 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 the event 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 machine in your family.

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Place a name utilizing the Alexa app

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

1. Open the Amazon Alexa app in your telephone.
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. Should you’re each utilizing a tool with a display screen (like Echo Present or Echo Spot), you will 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 choose an present dialog or faucet the Message icon on the prime of the Talk display screen. Then faucet the blue microphone button on the backside of the display screen to ship a brand new voice message. It will likely be despatched to your pal’s Alexa app and Echo machine.

To ship a voice message with an Echo machine, say “Alexa, ship [name of contact] a message”. To entry your voice messages, go to the Talk display screen 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 mainly the identical process as above. Choose the Talk icon, then choose an present dialog or faucet the Messages icon on the prime. On the subsequent display screen, as a substitute of talking your message, sort it. Your textual content will likely be pushed to your pal’s Alexa app or Echo machine, 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.” You may also schedule Do Not Disturb within the Alexa app (Settings > All units > Choose your machine > Do Not Disturb > Scheduled).

Drop In on a contact

Drop In is a function that can be utilized with Echo Present or Echo Spot. Amazon says that, typically you will most likely choose to make use of video calling, however Drop In can also be out there 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 machine.

You may choose and select which Echo units Drop In is obtainable on, and you’ll select which contacts can have the privileges to Drop In on it. If you need, you possibly can decide to not permit 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. Individuals close by an Echo in your family will hear a brief chime to point there may be 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. You may also 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 machine will hear a chime adopted by you saying, “the film is beginning.”

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

From the Alexa app in your telephone, it’s also possible to go to Talk from the underside navigation bar, after which choose the Bulletins button on the prime to provoke a broadcast. You will be given the choice to sort or communicate your announcement aloud, and it will immediately play in your units.

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Does Amazon nonetheless promote Echo Join?

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