How To Set Up Alexa To Receive Calls

(Pocket-lint) - Did you know you can use Alexa to call and message others?

Amazon's Alexa calling and messaging characteristic enables you to make and receive calls, as well as transport messages between Echo devices, the Amazon Alexa app for iOS and Android, and Fire tablets. It's a cracking way to contact family unit and friends. The best role? The feature is completely free to employ, as it works over Wi-Fi on most Echo devices and into Alexa apps too.

Here'southward everything y'all need to know almost it and how information technology works.

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What is Alexa calling and messaging?

The gratuitous feature was first introduced on the original Amazon Echo Show, but Amazon has extended this functionality to other Repeat and Alexa devices, so information technology developed what we now call "Alexa calling" or "Alexa calling and messaging". Information technology works with compatible Repeat devices, the Alexa app, and information technology works with Fire tablets.

Not only can y'all place a call using the feature, but y'all can also leave a vocalisation bulletin or send a text-based bulletin. The best bit near the feature is that it's free to use equally information technology works over Wi-Fi (or mobile data on your telephone), so you lot don't need to invest in a talk plan.

How does Alexa calling work?

Yous need an Amazon account and the Alexa app on a device running Android half-dozen.0 (or higher), iOS xi.0 (or college), or on an Android Fire tablet. Everything must be set-up using the Alexa app, where you'll find the Communicate tab.

Once yous've set it upwards via the Alexa app, you'll be able to utilize the service across all your Echo and Alexa devices, every bit long as it'due south enabled on each individual device - which information technology is by default.

You tin can sync the Alexa app with your contacts on your smartphone and this will allow Alexa to call phone numbers, meaning you tin can call from your Echo to a mobile telephone, for example. Alternatively, y'all can utilise Alexa to call other Echo devices that your contacts accept. If you don't sync your contacts, you can only use it to contact other Echo or Alexa devices that you're signed into - like an intercom system.

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Types of calls

Yous tin make the following types of calls:

Alexa-to-Alexa calling: Brand and receive calls between compatible Echo devices (or the Amazon Alexa app, more than on that beneath). You tin reach anyone from your mobile phone's contacts list who has a compatible Echo device and who has also signed upwards for Alexa Calling.
Mobile or landline calling: You can phone call most mobile or landline numbers in the United kingdom, Usa, Canada, and Mexico from a compatible Echo device, utilise Alexa to reach supported numbers saved to your mobile phone'due south contacts listing, or, say the number you want to call.
Alexa app calling: With the Amazon Alexa app on your Android or iOS smartphone (non bachelor on a tablet), yous tin can brand calls to mobile or landline numbers in the U.s.a., Canada, and Mexico. This gives you the ability to make and receive calls betwixt 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 lot can brand and receive international calls between uniform 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 upwardly for Alexa Calling and Messaging, and is listed in your contacts list in the Amazon Alexa app.
Group calling: You can setup groups for calling in the Alexa app with up to seven people, so you tin then call those groups directly.

Note: Alexa does not support calls to emergency service numbers ("911"), premium-rate numbers ("1-900" numbers), 3-digit numbers or abbreviated dial codes, international numbers (outside of the US, UK, Canada, and Mexico), and dial-by-letter numbers ("i-800-FLOWERS").

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Fix Alexa calling

To get started with Alexa calling for the first time, you need to sign up for it:

Open the Amazon Alexa app (on your uniform iOS or Android phone).
Open the Communicate tab from the bottom menu.
Follow the on-screen instructions to enter and verify your phone information.

Alexa uses your phone'due south address book to find people you know who have the Amazon Alexa app with Alexa Calling enabled, so that you tin can telephone call them that way, as well.

To add or edit contacts for Alexa Calling, update your telephone'south local address book and and so open the Amazon Alexa app. Contacts from your address book who also employ Alexa Calling volition machine-appear in your "Contacts" listing in the app, with the same names from your address book.

You can automatically sync y'all phone's address book, or you can manually add contacts, block contacts, add together groups - or y'all tin limit access to your favourite contacts, if you've designated contacts as favourites in your address book.

Place and receive calls using an Echo

To start a call from a uniform Echo device, just ask Alexa to telephone call the person or grouping you want to reach by name. You volition need to say their name exactly how it appears in your Alexa app. When yous phone call someone, it will ring their Alexa app and Repeat device, but you tin can specify to identify calls to a mobile number, for example. Alexa is confirm who you want to call before putting that telephone call through.

Y'all tin dial numbers directly as well, by saying each digit (including the area code) of the number you want to call. Merely retrieve Alexa uses vocalisation profiles to decide who is making a call. If yous have a voice profile and Alexa is able to recognise your phonation, your contacts list is automatically used.

You tin telephone call a contact through the Alexa app also. Just select the Communicate icon on the home screen, then tap the Contact icon in the upper corner, and tap on a contact. You can and so identify your call.

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All your incoming calls or messages are too put through to your Alexa app and Repeat devices. Your Echo devices volition sound an alarm and announce who is calling, while your Alexa app will serve upwards a notification. Just say "Answer" or answer from your phone to accept the telephone call. Alternatively, you can say "Ignore" or ignore it from your phone. On devices with screens, you'll also have have or reject buttons on the screen. When y'all want to end a call, you tin say "Hang upwards" or tap the end push button on your phone.

While a call is agile, the lights on your Echo device will glow dark-green.

Hither are some Alexa commands you can say:

Make a call to some other Echo device: "Alexa, phone call [Corey]" or " Alexa, call my [Family unit]"
Make a phone 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, phone call [Brandon] at work" or "Alexa, call [Mom's] office".
Punch a mobile or landline number: "Alexa, call [number]."
Control call volume: "Alexa, plough the volume up / down."
Hang upwardly / finish the telephone call: "Alexa, hang up" or "Alexa, end call."
Reply the call: But say, "Answer."
Ignore the call: Just say, "Ignore."

The lights on your Echo volition stay green whenever a call is connected, only 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.

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Place a call using the Alexa app

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

Open up the Amazon Alexa app on your telephone.
Select Communicate from the lesser navigation bar.
Select the Call push at the peak.
Select the contact yous want to attain and then select their number or Alexa audio call or video call. If you're both using a device with a screen (like Echo Show or Echo Spot), yous'll encounter the option to offset a video call.
To end the phone call, select the Terminate button on-screen.

What else tin can y'all do with Alexa calling?

Send a vox message

Voice letters are sort of like voicemails. To send a voice message with the Alexa app, select the Communicate icon. You can pick an existing chat or tap the Bulletin icon at the top of the Communicate screen. Then tap the blue microphone push button at the lesser of the screen to send a new vox bulletin. It volition be sent to your friend's Alexa app and Echo device.

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

Send a text messages

To send a text message with the Alexa app it'south basically the same procedure as in a higher place. Select the Communicate icon, then choice an existing conversation or tap the Messages icon at the peak. On the next screen, instead of speaking your message, blazon information technology. Your text will exist pushed to your friend's Alexa app or Repeat device, and they will get a notification, besides.

Enable Do not disturb

If you want to cake Alexa from alerting you nigh calls and letters, turn on Exercise Not Disturb. Say, "Alexa, don't disturb me." You can also schedule Do Non Disturb in the Alexa app (Settings > All devices > Select your device > Practice Non Disturb > Scheduled).

Drop In on a contact

Drib In is a feature that can be used with Repeat Show or Repeat Spot. Amazon says that, in most cases y'all'll probably adopt to use video calling, but Drop In is also bachelor then you can easily check in with an elderly relative or check a photographic camera in the nursery. Yous won't need to phone call someone else, but can simply admission the photographic camera on another Echo Show device.

Y'all can pick and choose which Repeat devices Drib In is available on, and you can cull which contacts can have the privileges to Driblet In on it. If you lot desire, you can opt to not permit anyone to, or restrict it to your household, for example. To larn how to set up and utilise Driblet In, go hither.

Make an proclamation

With Alexa Announcements, you can ask Alexa to brand announcements on all compatible Echo devices in your household. Remember of information technology as a 1-style intercom. People nearby an Repeat in your household volition hear a curt chime to betoken there is an incoming declaration, then the announcement volition play in the voice of whoever is making the declaration. Cool, right?

To create an Alexa Proclamation, simply say "Alexa, announce", and so say your announcement aloud. You tin also say "Alexa, broadcast", and once again, tack on your voice bulletin at the stop. So, for instance, you lot can say, "Alexa, circulate 'the motion picture is starting.'" Everyone in your dwelling house within earshot of an Repeat device volition hear a chime followed by you saying, "the flick is starting."

For some phrases Alexa will add sound effects if it recognises particular trigger words, similar "Alexa, announce, dinner is ready".

From the Alexa app on your phone, you can also go to Communicate from the lesser navigation bar, and then select the Announcements button at the pinnacle to initiate a broadcast. Yous'll be given the option to type or speak your annunciation aloud, and it'll instantly play on your devices.

Everything you need to know about Alexa announcements

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Does Amazon still sell Repeat Connect?

Nope. Amazon quietly discounted its Echo Connect accessory. You lot could use it with a supported Echo device to brand and receive phone calls through your home phone service. Amazon didn't charge you to identify or receive a call with Echo Connect, though you still needed to buy a dwelling telephone landline or VoIP packet from your local telecom provider. If you lot ain this erstwhile accessory, Amazon has a FAQ page that details how it works.

Writing by Maggie Tillman. Editing by Adrian Willings.