Amazon Rolls Out Alexa Device Messaging and Calling to U.K. and Germany

[MacRumors]

Amazon is updating its Alexa app today to add support for messaging and calling on Alexa-powered smart devices in the U.K., Germany, and Austria (via The Verge).

The second-generation Echo in Charcoal Fabric​

The Alexa voice calling feature will work on standard Echo and Echo Dot smart speakers, allowing users to call the devices free of charge. iPhone and Android owners can also use the Alexa app to call the Alexa-powered devices directly.

Amazon's second-generation Echo devices hit Europe on October 31 and support the feature as standard, while video calling is limited to the display-based Echo Show device, which is set to become available in the U.K. and Germany next month.

Article Link: Amazon Rolls Out Alexa Device Messaging and Calling to U.K. and Germany

 

[Azzin]

Looking forward to trying these new features out.

 

[jmh600cbr]

Still no Alexa in Canada. Why?

 

[576316]

I keep seeing that the new Echo has an interchangeable shell (like the old Dot) but I can’t find any images of what it looks like without a shell.

 

[fischersd]

Still no Alexa in Canada. Why?

Maybe they're waiting to also release the French Canadian at the same time? There's only about 8M francophones in the country...that could be a stumbling block for them. Other, more populous languages/regions would come first.

 

[Mike Oxard]

I keep seeing that the new Echo has an interchangeable shell (like the old Dot) but I can’t find any images of what it looks like without a shell.

Perhaps it looks like a slug?

Has anyone in used this feature in the US? I'd like to know what the call quality is like.

EDIT: Just tried it out, dropped in on the wife in the living room!! Quality was ok from my phone to the echo when she was next to it, it was a bit muffled when she was on the other side of the room.

 

[deany]

Some really cool features added here.
Just set it up but realised I don't know anyone with Alexa!

 

[jmh600cbr]

Maybe they're waiting to also release the French Canadian at the same time? There's only about 8M francophones in the country...that could be a stumbling block for them. Other, more populous languages/regions would come first.

very reasonable response. I never considered that.

 

[NeilHD]

Excellent - no more yelling to my 11-yr old son when he's in his room!

Even better - I can remind him to do his homework whilst I'm still in the office!

EDIT - Actually I'm not sure this works like I thought it might. I was imagining I could send a message from the app to one of my Echos and it would read it, but I can't see how it could do that.