Alexa as a virtual assistant and the Amazon Echo as a smart speaker are two products that have entered our home very quickly, this is how Amazon has decided to democratize all the possibilities of the IoT or internet of things. However, there are so many possibilities that we have with this type of device that it costs us all letter openers.
We are here in Actualidad Gadget, to help you with all your doubts and bring you the best cattails. We show you how you can call anyone through your Amazon Echo device or any Alexa-compatible speaker. Stay with us and find out with this simple and quick tutorial.
As always, you can take advantage of our step-by-step tutorial in this post, or go through the video that we have embedded in the upper part of the same so that you can see with the best images which are the instructions that you must follow, what I can promise you is that it is easy and above all fast. Therefore and without further delay we are going to offer you the best tutorial to make calls from Alexa or your Amazon Echo.
How to activate Skype to make calls with Alexa
This is perhaps the most complex phase. As you well know if you follow us on Twitter through @agadget, since the last Alexa update it is possible to configure the link with our Skype account, as it already happens with other platforms that offer digital content. This agreement between Amazon and Microsoft allows us to take advantage of all the functionalities of Skype through any smart speaker that has Alexa, but for this it is important that we have a microphone, since not all devices have. Be that as it may, the Amazon Echo are obviously one of the best options to carry out a call or teleconference through Alexa and Skype.
- Enter the web: alexa.amazon.com
- Log in with your Amazon credentials linked to the Alexa service
- Go to the left menu where you find the "Settings" section
- Now access the «Communications» menu
- Once inside, select the Skype icon, so that it will direct you to the Microsoft ID page
- Log in and press "OK" to link your Microsoft account with Alexa's
Now you have fully integrated Skype with Alexa. In addition, the first users who make this configuration will receive 200 minutes of international calls to mobile and landline numbers completely free of charge this is what will allow you to call any number through the Amazon Echo.
How to make calls with Alexa or from the Amazon Echo
Now that we have made the link, we will simply have to interact with Alexa for this we will make the following request:
- Alexa, make a call on Skype
That's when Alexa will answer you by asking who the contact you want to call via Skype is. In this case, if what we want to make is a call to a mobile or landline phone, what we are going to do is say something like this:
- To the number…. (spelling out the phone number)
- To the mobile number «José González»
Then Alexa will begin to make the phone call, for this it will emit the classic sound of an outgoing Skype call while the LED indicator of the Alexa operation is shown in green. To hang up the calls we simply have to ask Alexa.
How to make Skype calls with Alexa or the Amazon Echo
As we have said before, we have completely linked our Microsoft or Skype account with our Alexa account, this means that Alexa will now have access to our Skype contacts. Therefore, when we invoke the phone call we can end it with a single sentence:
- Alexa, make a Skype call to José González.
Overview 3
When we perform this action, Alexa will make a call to the Skype-compatible device that the receiver has active. Although as always, the quality and clarity of the phone call will depend on the internet connection that the device in question has. In the same way, it is not possible to make calls to specific groups at the moment, although surely Amazon and Microsoft are working on a future update.
Details to keep in mind with Alexa calling
It is important to note that calling through Skype is completely free How could it be otherwise, however, when we make calls to mobile numbers, the charges specified at all times by Skype apply. However, if we do not have our Skype account linked to any type of payment method, it will simply indicate that it is not possible to make a call to a mobile number without Skype. This will continue to be the case as long as companies do not launch their own Skills that enable this possibility. However, if you register Skype now from Alexa you will receive 200 minutes totally free.