SEATTLE—The Amazon Echo can now be used to place phone calls to both mobile devices and landlines.
The move comes at a time more financial institutions, including credit unions, are allowing account holders to conduct banking transactions over smart speakers.
This latest upgrade is an improvement on the Amazon Calling feature introduced in May. In the past, Echo users could only call other Amazon Echo users, and there was no way to block incoming calls. However, consumers can now use their Amazon Echo, Echo Dot or Echo Show to call any phone in the United States, Canada or Mexico for free, reported SaveOnPhone.com.
“To use the feature, you need the Alexa app installed on your mobile phone. Then, callers tell Alexa who they would like to call from their contacts, or they can read off a number to dial. Whichever method is used, Alexa will ask users to verify the number before placing the call. When someone calls, their mobile phone number will appear on the caller ID of the recipient’s device, though someone can opt to have their call displayed as ‘unknown number,’” SaveOnPhone.com explained.
Amazon Echo devices do not yet offer a text messaging option. The Echo Connect, which will be released in mid-December, will also double as a speakerphone.