How To Set Up Contacts On Alexa Echo

(Pocket-lint) - 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, too as ship messages betwixt Echo devices, the Amazon Alexa app for iOS and Android, and Burn down tablets. It's a neat way to contact family unit and friends. The best office? The feature is completely costless to utilize, as it works over Wi-Fi on most Echo devices and into Alexa apps too.

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

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What is Alexa calling and messaging?

The free feature was first introduced on the original Amazon Echo Prove, merely Amazon has extended this functionality to other Echo and Alexa devices, so it developed what nosotros now call "Alexa calling" or "Alexa calling and messaging". It works with compatible Echo devices, the Alexa app, and information technology works with Burn tablets.

Not only can you place a call using the feature, but you can also go out a voice message or send a text-based message. The best chip about the feature is that information technology'south free to utilize as it works over Wi-Fi (or mobile information on your phone), so you don't need to invest in a talk plan.

How does Alexa calling work?

Y'all need an Amazon business relationship and the Alexa app on a device running Android vi.0 (or higher), iOS eleven.0 (or higher), or on an Android Burn down tablet. Everything must be ready-up using the Alexa app, where you'll find the Communicate tab.

Once you've fix it upward via the Alexa app, y'all'll be able to utilise the service across all your Echo and Alexa devices, equally long as it's enabled on each private device - which it is past default.

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

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Types of calls

You tin make the post-obit 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 tin 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: Y'all can phone call most mobile or landline numbers in the Uk, The states, Canada, and United mexican states from a uniform Repeat device, use Alexa to accomplish supported numbers saved to your mobile telephone's contacts list, or, say the number you desire to call.
Alexa app calling: With the Amazon Alexa app on your Android or iOS smartphone (non available on a tablet), you can brand calls to mobile or landline numbers in the United states of america, Canada, and United mexican states. This gives you the power to brand and receive calls between anyone from your phone'south contacts list who has the Alexa app or a uniform Repeat device, and who has also signed upwards for Alexa Calling and Messaging.
International calls: You can brand and receive international calls betwixt compatible Echo devices and the Amazon Alexa app. Just brand sure the contact you lot 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.
Group calling: You tin can setup groups for calling in the Alexa app with up to 7 people, so you can then call those groups direct.

Annotation: Alexa does not support calls to emergency service numbers ("911"), premium-charge per unit numbers ("1-900" numbers), three-digit numbers or abbreviated dial codes, international numbers (outside of the The states, UK, Canada, and Mexico), and dial-past-alphabetic character numbers ("1-800-FLOWERS").

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Gear up up Alexa calling

To get started with Alexa calling for the outset fourth dimension, you demand 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 data.

Alexa uses your phone's address volume to find people you know who have the Amazon Alexa app with Alexa Calling enabled, so that you tin can call them that fashion, too.

To add together or edit contacts for Alexa Calling, update your telephone's local accost book and and so open up the Amazon Alexa app. Contacts from your address book who also use Alexa Calling will car-appear in your "Contacts" list in the app, with the same names from your accost book.

You lot can automatically sync y'all phone'south address book, or yous tin can manually add contacts, block contacts, add groups - or y'all can limit access to your favourite contacts, if yous've designated contacts every bit favourites in your accost book.

Place and receive calls using an Echo

To start a call from a uniform Echo device, just inquire Alexa to call the person or group you want to attain by proper name. You will need to say their name exactly how it appears in your Alexa app. When you call someone, information technology will ring their Alexa app and Echo device, but you can specify to place calls to a mobile number, for example. Alexa is confirm who you lot desire to phone call before putting that call through.

You can dial numbers directly likewise, by proverb each digit (including the area code) of the number you want to call. Just recollect Alexa uses voice profiles to determine who is making a call. If you have a voice profile and Alexa is able to recognise your voice, your contacts listing is automatically used.

You can phone call a contact through the Alexa app as well. Just select the Communicate icon on the home screen, then tap the Contact icon in the upper corner, and tap on a contact. You tin then place your phone call.

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All your incoming calls or letters are also put through to your Alexa app and Echo devices. Your Echo devices will sound an alert and announce who is calling, while your Alexa app volition serve up a notification. Only say "Answer" or answer from your telephone to accept the telephone call. Alternatively, yous can say "Ignore" or ignore information technology from your telephone. On devices with screens, you'll also have accept or reject buttons on the screen. When you want to end a phone call, you tin can say "Hang upward" or tap the end push on your phone.

While a call is agile, the lights on your Echo device volition glow greenish.

Here are some Alexa commands you tin can say:

Make a call to another Echo device: "Alexa, call [Corey]" or " Alexa, phone call my [Family]"
Make a call to a mobile or landline number saved to your contacts: "Alexa, phone call [John'due south] mobile" or "Alexa, call [Chris] on his home phone" or "Alexa, call [Brandon] at work" or "Alexa, telephone call [Mom's] part".
Dial a mobile or landline number: "Alexa, call [number]."
Control call book: "Alexa, turn the volume up / down."
Hang upward / finish the phone call: "Alexa, hang up" or "Alexa, end call."
Answer the call: Just say, "Answer."
Ignore the call: But say, "Ignore."

The lights on your Repeat will stay green whenever a telephone call is connected, merely if you're already on a call and another phone call comes in, the new call will be automatically sent to another supported device in your household.

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Place a phone call using the Alexa app

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

Open the Amazon Alexa app on your phone.
Select Communicate from the bottom navigation bar.
Select the Call button at the top.
Select the contact yous desire to attain then select their number or Alexa audio phone call or video call. If yous're both using a device with a screen (like Echo Show or Echo Spot), you'll run across the selection to start a video call.
To end the call, select the End push on-screen.

What else can you do with Alexa calling?

Send a voice message

Vox messages are sort of like voicemails. To send a vocalism message with the Alexa app, select the Communicate icon. You tin can pick an existing chat or tap the Bulletin icon at the top of the Communicate screen. And so tap the blue microphone button at the bottom of the screen to send a new voice message. It volition be sent to your friend'south Alexa app and Echo device.

To transport a voice message with an Echo device, say "Alexa, send [name of contact] a message". To admission your vocalism messages, 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'due south basically the same procedure equally above. Select the Communicate icon, then pick an existing conversation or tap the Letters icon at the top. On the adjacent screen, instead of speaking your message, type it. Your text will exist pushed to your friend'southward Alexa app or Echo device, and they will get a notification, too.

Enable Practise non disturb

If you want to block Alexa from alerting yous about calls and messages, turn on Do Not Disturb. Say, "Alexa, don't disturb me." Y'all tin can as well schedule Do Not Disturb in the Alexa app (Settings > All devices > Select your device > Do Not Disturb > Scheduled).

Drop In on a contact

Drop In is a feature that tin be used with Echo Show or Echo Spot. Amazon says that, in most cases you'll probably adopt to utilise video calling, but Drop In is also bachelor and then you can hands bank check in with an elderly relative or check a camera in the plant nursery. You won't demand to telephone call someone else, but can simply access the camera on another Echo Show device.

You can pick and choose which Echo devices Drop In is bachelor on, and you can choose which contacts can have the privileges to Drib In on it. If you desire, yous tin can opt to non let anyone to, or restrict it to your household, for example. To learn how to prepare and apply Drop In, go hither.

Make an announcement

With Alexa Announcements, you can ask Alexa to brand announcements on all compatible Echo devices in your household. Call up of information technology as a one-way intercom. People nearby an Echo in your household volition hear a curt chime to indicate in that location is an incoming proclamation, and then the announcement will play in the vocalism of whoever is making the announcement. Absurd, correct?

To create an Alexa Announcement, simply say "Alexa, announce", and then say your announcement aloud. You tin also say "Alexa, broadcast", and once more, tack on your phonation bulletin at the terminate. So, for case, you tin can say, "Alexa, broadcast 'the motion-picture show is starting.'" Everyone in your domicile within earshot of an Echo device will hear a chime followed by yous saying, "the movie is starting."

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

From the Alexa app on your telephone, you tin can also go to Communicate from the lesser navigation bar, and then select the Announcements button at the pinnacle to initiate a circulate. You lot'll be given the option to type or speak your announcement aloud, and information technology'll instantly play on your devices.

Everything you need to know about Alexa announcements

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Does Amazon still sell Echo Connect?

Nope. Amazon quietly discounted its Repeat Connect accompaniment. You could utilise it with a supported Echo device to make and receive phone calls through your home telephone service. Amazon didn't accuse you to place or receive a phone call with Repeat Connect, though you notwithstanding needed to buy a home phone landline or VoIP package from your local telecom provider. If you own this old accessory, Amazon has a FAQ folio that details how information technology works.

Writing by Maggie Tillman. Editing by Adrian Willings.