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Most try the Communication features found in the Amazon Alexa App the first time they buy an Echo smart device.
Or also common... Someone you know got an Echo, and you want to conveniently communicate with them.
Both times, it’s a good idea to try several Communication features, since there's no extra cost after the purchase of an Echo.
When you’re inside the Amazon Alexa App on your phone, find the Communication tab (check the "More" icon).
For families who already have an Echo, it’s got unique features for communication.
The essential Communication features a first-time Device-owning and App-using family should try with adults and seniors is this:
Call Someone: You can do video or just voice calls, as well as an Alexa-special Drop In call.
"Echo, drop in on Dad."
"Echo, drop in on the TV room."
"Echo, drop in on my Echo."
Call a Group: Setup small groups of different relatives to keep in the loop.
"Echo, call the neighbors."
"Echo, call the Smiths in Alabama."
Post Announcements: Send text or a photo for your family members to know.
“Echo, announce that breakfast is served.”
Find Your Phone: After your phone is linked, this is one easy way to locate it.
"Echo, find my phone."
Looking at each in a little more detail…
The basic idea is you can setup a list of contacts who you wish to communicate with through your voice-compatible Amazon smart home devices and apps.
At the beginning of setting up your Contacts, the App will ask you to import the contacts from your phone’s address book. I recommend you don’t.
That way you can start with fewer people in your Contacts list.
It makes it less stressful when you’re testing all these new voice-activated communicatory gadgets. Knowing you won’t accidentally video call someone from work while troubleshooting Alexa’a tricks from your living room.
The official Amazon.com knowledge base gives a great overview here: “What is Alexa Calling and Messaging?” #ad
The Amazon Alexa App will ask you to “Import All Contact” from your phone, but I recommend you don’t.
Instead, just manually make profiles for family members. I won’t bore you with those details, unless you want to learn how to setup your Family Profiles the right way.
The official Amazon Knowledge Base has simple instructions if all you want to do is add a contact and that’s it: “Add Alexa Contacts”
Your Emergency Contact is exactly what you think.
It’s the person you "Call for help."
It’s the person whose telephone will be called when you just say "Echo, Help." or "Echo, I need help."
Amazon wants you to know Emergency Contacts by Amazon are NOT an alternative to 911.
On major US carriers listed in the App's Communication settings, you do have the option to “Link Your Mobile Number with Alexa” (Official Instructions and Info from Amazon Knowledge Base Here).
Since I use low-cost Tello telephone provider #ad here in Small Town, Michigan, I haven’t tested this feature, but apparently it lets you forward calls to and from your device and your phone as you please - as long as you use a major telephone carrier like Skype, AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon.
One is not like the rest.
Yet another Alexa lingo You Gotta Learn…
Alexa-to-Phone Contacts are people who already have an Amazon Alexa App account with a real telephone number verified.
Since each Alexa-to-Phone Contact has completed verification of their telephone number already, you can make outbound calls to their phones from your Echo (or other Amazon Alexa voice-enabled device). Very convenient once you get the hang of it (read Amazon Knowledge Base: “Manage Your Alexa-to-Phone Contacts”)
Chat messages are mostly used like any other chat app, between people who have the App on their phones.
My opinion is, “Messages” in the Communication Tab isn’t better than Facebook, WhatsApp, or regular iPhone text messaging with family.
To date, I haven’t found a “best reason” to use the App’s messaging with family.
I used to send photo messages to family members in the App, so that the same photos would show up on my dad’s Echo Show 10, but now I’m smarter and just use the Amazon Photos App to control which photos show on my Dad’s Echo Show.
I especially don’t recommend sending photos on App’s Chat, because you can’t delete it from your device, and when you try, it tells you to use Amazon Photos App. Alexa tells me other people can’t see this photo now but I still see it, and can’t get rid of it, and it shouldn’t be this way, Alexa.
Echo, I still appreciate the many other things you help my family do.
Drop In is what makes Communication with Echos very unique.
Like a two-way intercom that only takes one person to start the call, it’s really well designed for younger generations who need to call older generations who can’t always get to the phone.
Drop In is good for calling Grandma and Grandpa.
Announcements how you get to announce anything on all your Echo devices (or a select group of Echos you choose).
You announce dinner time, or just make a funny joke.
Try the dinner bell or fart noise.
Have some fun.
If you get really advanced you can make a Routine, to send an announcement for a certain prankster occasion that recurs in your household.
The idea is you setup VIP contacts inside the App and/or Echo devices themselves. Then you put them in a group that can have a simultaneous call.
The real power is, this can be initiated through Drop In.
Because after Drop In is enabled, you can Drop In to a Group Call.
It works great for trusted family members who all live apart.
I’ve mentioned before, I don’t recommend photo sharing in the App.
Instead, I recommend photo sharing from the Amazon Photos App.
You can make photo Collections that show up on your Echo show (your echo device with a screen display).
You can share and un-share single photos or collections with different people and groups in-sync with your Contacts (inside the App).
However, despite unlimited photo storage included in my family’s Amazon Prime subscription, I choose to only put photos intended to show on the Echo Show. Not my phone’s entire photo album.
Yes, to turn of all communication for a specific Echo device, open the Amazon Alexa App, go to Devices, find the device’s settings and Disable Communication.
Heres the official Amazon Knowledge Base Instructions: “Turn Off Communications for Specific Alexa Devices”
Yes, you can block individuals from contacting you on Echo devices (and other Alexa voice-service enabled devices).
Here’s Amazon’s official instructions how to “Block or Unblock Alexa Contacts”
I haven’t been able to find a way to enable Calls and Drop-In only at certain times.
Since my elderly dad can’t answer the phone, we were hoping to let family members call him on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
So far, I haven’t found a way to do that other than the manual method.
Since Drop In has privacy concerns even for “trusted yet distant” relatives, the ability to set an answering schedule on behalf makes sense to me.
Amazon voice services have a Communication Usage Guideline in place, which is enforced by Amazon staff.
You can’t infringe on other people using these Amazon products and services. If someones bothering you, then it’s probably against the rules. I still can’t find hotline to call and speak with a real person, so I think you just need to Block the Contact.
UPDATE: This post was updated in April 2024 to reflect Amazon Alexa technology’s feature which allows you to change the wake word from default “Alexa” to preferred “Echo,” “Amazon,” “Computer,” or “Ziggy”. You can change yours using Amazon official instructions, here.
