Make Voice and Video Calls using Alexa and Amazon Echo

If you know about Amazon Echo or using it in your home, you can understand how useful it can be. It can be useful to play music, turning on/off lights, asking anything or check the weather. Amazon Alexa-driven smart speakers can do these things easily just like Google Voice Assistant. It also can make calls via using contacts. Here in this guide, we will share with you the steps to Make Voice and Video Calls using Alexa and Amazon Echo.

Before going to the topic, let’s take a look at the compatible device list.

• Echo
• Echo Dot
• Amazon Echo Show
• Echo Spot
• Echo Plus
• Fire tablets (4th gen or later) with the Alexa app
• Compatible with iPhones, iPads, and Android smartphones & tablets with the Alexa app

Make Voice and Video Calls using Alexa and Amazon Echo

• First, you need to give access to Alexa within your contacts.
• Head over the Alexa app on your iPhone or Android smartphone.
• Now, tap on the Calling & Messaging tab at the bottom of the screen.
• If you haven’t enabled it, the app will ask permission from you to access your contacts and register your mobile number.
• Once it’s done, you’ll be able to call and message any of your friends and family from the contact list who have Amazon Echo devices. (That’s a must)
• Simply place a call by asking Alexa to call someone. For instance, if you want to call your dad, just say, “Alexa, call dad”.

If the Contacted Person doesn’t have Amazon Echo:

If the contacted person has Amazon Echo device, Alexa will automatically call it. But that person should have also signed up for calls and messages in Alexa app.

If the recipient doesn’t have an Echo device (or not enabled the service), Alexa will do anyone thing from below options:

• It will call the Alexa app on the recipient phone or dial the number associated with the contact.
• If there are multiple numbers attached to a contact, it will ask you to call anyone of them. You may have to say, “mobile” or “home” and Alexa will dial the appropriate number.

Can Call to a New Number (Not in the Contacts)

You can call someone else from the Echo device using Alexa by telling the number manually. [For example, “Alexa, call 0011223344”]

Make an International Calls

You can call in any other country that supports Alexa-via-Alexa Calling & Messaging from Amazon Echo device. Whereas, non-Echo landline and mobile calls are limited to Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.

Call Any Number with Codes

Alexa can be able to dial any numbers with codes, but there are a few changes which you need to follow:

• Emergency services numbers (e.g. “911”)
• Premium-rate numbers (e.g. “1-900” numbers, or toll numbers)
• Any local X-1-1 numbers dial codes (e.g. “211,” “411,” etc.)
• International numbers (numbers outside of the US, Canada, and Mexico)
• Dial-by-letter numbers (e.g. “1-800-FLOWERS”)

Don’t have an Echo, What to do?

It’s worth mentioning that you don’t need an Echo device to make a call via Alexa. If you open the Calling & Messaging tab on the mobile app, you can call anyone on your contacts list. Just tap on the contact name whom you want to call. If the recipient has an Echo device, you’ll see icons for voice and video calls at the top. Otherwise, you call a landline or mobile number.

End a Call

In order to end a call, just say, “Alexa, end the call”. With the Echo Spots and Echo Shows, you can also tap the red phone icon on the screen to end the call easily.

Make a Video Call

If you make Voice and Video Calls using Alexa (Echo Show or Echo Spot device), it will do a video call by default just like Apple’s FaceTime or Google Duo app. You can turn off the camera by just saying, “Alexa, turn the video off”. Otherwise, you can guard the camera lens manually as well.

Answer an Incoming Call

Whenever you get an incoming call, your Echo device will play a ringing sound with a yellow LED blinking. In order to answer the call, just say, “Alexa, answer the call”.

Block Numbers

You can block any number if it’s in your contacts list.

• Go to the Calling and Messaging tab in the Alexa app and tap on the contacts icon in the top right corner.
• Next, open the three-dot menu icon in the right corner. Select ‘Block Contacts’ option.
• Choose any contact which you want to block.

Call Another Echo in the Same House

The ‘Drop-In’ feature automatically connects between the household members instantly within Echo devices in each room.

In order to enable it:

• Tap on the “Set up Drop-In” option at the top of the Calling & Messaging screen.
• Then tap on Profile Settings and turn on the “Allow Drop-In” toggle.
• Now, you’ll be able to use your Echo device as an intercom by asking to drop-in on an Echo device in other rooms.
• You’ll need to call it exactly by name which you’ve saved as a room in the app.
• That’s it.

We hope that this guide will be helpful to you. For any queries, ask in the comments below.