Using the Amazon Echo to connect with loved ones over the holiday season has got easier with the announcement of group video calling and other new call features. Owners of Echo devices, including the Echo Show and Echo Dot, can now make a group call with a simple verbal command. The new calling feature allows up to seven people to join audio or video calls on Echo devices.

The Amazon Echo is one of a range of smart speakers and other devices that are controlled by voice commands. Amazon’s own Alexa is the voice-controlled personal assistant that allows users to perform a variety of tasks. Alexa can check the news and weather, play music, and answer queries. It can also control smart home products, including lights, thermostats, and door locks. The Alexa platform boasts a comprehensive range of skills, which is one reason Echo devices are a popular choice.

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Amazon’s Alexa calling feature enables users to make and receive calls and send messages between Echo devices. The feature is free; all that is needed is the Amazon Alexa app for iOS or Android, an Amazon account, and a mobile phone number. Users can get started by creating a group of contacts on the Alexa app and give that group a name. To add members to the group, open the Alexa app on an Android or iOS device, tap the ‘Communicate’ button, tap on the person’s icon in the top-right corner, tap ‘Add New’, and then ‘Add Group’. Lastly, tap the ‘Enable’ button to activate the group calling feature.

Other New Amazon Echo & Alexa Calling Features

In addition to the group calling feature, Amazon has also introduced video conference calling through Zoom and Amazon Chime on Echo Show 8 devices. To join in a video meeting with friends and family, simply ask Alexa to join the Zoom meeting or Amazon Chime meeting. There is no limit on call times. Echo Show devices can also feature call captioning, with real-time voice-to-text captions for audio, video, and drop in calls. In addition to helping users who are deaf or hard of hearing, call captioning is helpful when users are in noisy environments.

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Amazon has also extended the new calling feature to the Fire tablet, which allows children to connect with friends and family. All that is needed for children to make Alexa voice or video calls is an Echo device, Fire tablet, mobile device, and the Amazon Kids app. Using the Alexa app, parents control and manage contact lists, and children can only call contacts approved by parents.

Many people are choosing to stay at home this holiday season, so it is good timing that these features are now available. Using an Amazon Echo device to stay in touch with friends and family is critical while loved ones are physically apart. Group calling is a great way to stay in touch while staying safe and healthy in the comfort of home.

Source: Amazon

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Ricky Ochs
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Ricky Ochs is a writer and journalist who is a huge fan of horror movies and old-school comic books. He is based in Loveland, Colorado where he worked for a newspaper for two decades and was also a content writer for a large marketing company. He holds a BA in journalism from Colorado State University with an English minor. It should be quite obvious that writing is his passion. In his free time, Ricky enjoys riding his mountain bike and hiking in the beautiful Rocky Mountains and listening to death metal.

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