I finally got an Amazon Echo Dot this past weekend! I love being able to say, “Alexa, what’s the weather today?” Or “Alexa, play songs by Taylor Swift.” But what’s even cooler: I can now make phone calls to other Echo devices using Alexa-to-Alexa Calling!
I first introduced a similar feature in the Ask My Buddy skill a while back. In Ask My Buddy, users are able to program specific numbers to contact through the Echo. With this skill enabled, users can say: “Alexa, Ask My Buddy to tell Daniel I need help.”
Depending on what the settings are, Ask My Buddy will then forward my message to Daniel’s email or SMS.
Now, the Amazon Echo devices have a built-in Alexa-to-Alexa calling skill. With this skill enabled, users are able to make free phone calls to any of the following Echo devices:
- Echo
- Echo Dot (1st Generation)
- Echo Dot (2nd Generation)
- Echo Show
- Alexa app (installed on a compatible iOS or Android phone)
This feature is available to Alexa customers within the United States. All you need to sign up is an Amazon account, the Alexa app (installed on compatible iOS or Android phone), and a cell phone number.
After you verify your number through SMS, this feature can use phone data but doesn’t use text messages and minutes from your cell plan.
The Alexa-to-Alexa calling feature is ideal for those moments where perhaps I fell out of my chair and dropped my phone. All I have to do is say, “Alexa, call John Smith,” and she’ll connect me to him via his Echo or the Alexa app.
Click here to learn more.