Amazon is expanding Alexa’s ability to send messages by allowing it to send SMS text messages to any phone, instead of just messaging other people through the Alexa app, via TechCrunch.
You can use Alexa to send SMS messages now, if you’ve also got an Android phone
No word if the feature is coming to iOS
No word if the feature is coming to iOS
Photo by Lauren Goode / The Verge
The new feature only works for Alexa users with an Android device that also have the Alexa app installed. To set things up, navigate over to Conversations tab, then “Contacts,” then “My Profile,” then switch the “Send SMS” feature to on. There’s no word as to when or even if similar functionality will be available on iOS devices.
By default, asking Alexa to send “a message” will cause the device to first try to send messages to the Alexa app, assuming your recipient has it installed and configured, and will only send through SMS if that option isn’t available. Asking Alexa to send “a text”, though, will cause it to go straight to sending SMS messages.
The new feature comes just days before the launch of Apple’s HomePod, which will feature the ability to send iMessage and SMS messages through Siri.
The new feature should be rolling out now on any Amazon devices that support Alexa messages and calling, but apparently isn’t available on any third-party Alexa speakers.
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