Alexa Calling and Messaging is a free service that provides calling and messaging between supported Echo devices and the Alexa app, or from Echo devices to your cell phone contacts. It allows you to make Alexa-to-Alexa calls, Alexa-to-Alexa messages and mobile/landline calls from most Echo devices and using the Alexa app. Although Alexa Calling and Messaging requires a mobile phone number, it does not use your mobile plan for calls, texts or data through your Echo devices.
What you need:
- An Amazon account
- A mobile phone number
- The Alexa app
- At least one Echo device
How to do it:
At this time, you can only complete the Alexa Calling and Messaging setup from an iOS or Android phone.
- Open the Alexa app on your phone
- Tap the Conversations icon
in the bottom menu - Tap Get Started
- Select your name from the list or pick “I’m someone else”
- Confirm your name and hit Continue
- Give Amazon permissions to update your contacts on Amazon periodically. This is how the list of people you know stays updated for you to call and message them through Alexa.
- Enter your mobile number and tap Continue. This is the number that will show up on people’s phones when you call them through Alexa.
- Enter the verification code when you receive a text from Amazon and tap Continue
You will then be taken to the Conversations screen where you can see any messages you may receive through Alexa Messaging. To see your contacts, tap the person icon in the top right. If you tap on a contact, you can send a message to them, call them, or start a video chat. You can also say if you want to allow a contact to drop in to your devices from here.
If you have multiple Echo devices in your house, you may want to enable Drop In so that you can use them as an intercom in your own house.