You Can Now Make Skype Calls on Amazon Echo Smart Speakers

• Amazon Echo has added support for hands-free Skype calling functionality in the latest software update.
• The smart speakers were capable of calling prior to the update as well, but they were bound to Amazon’s own apps.
• The new feature is a result of a collaboration between Amazon and Microsoft.

Amazon and Microsoft announced their collaboration to cross over features between both of their services earlier this year. We are finally seeing some updates come along our way in the form of Skype calling on Amazon Echo devices. Prior to the update, video chat was limited to the Echo Show and Echo Spot. With the latest update, other Echo devices are getting to join the Skype party as well.

To use your Amazon Echo device for video calling, you need to update your Alexa app to the latest version and connect your Skype account. Once your smart speaker is ready, you can ask Alexa to call anyone on your contacts list, and the device will initiate the call. You can also manually dial phone numbers to call any number using your Skype credits.

The partnership between Amazon and Microsoft was meant to improve Alexa and Cortana enabled devices, but there hasn’t been much from Microsoft’s offerings yet. The partnership between the companies is surely going to hurt Facebook’s attempts at breaking into the smart device market. With Amazon Echo devices ruling the market, Facebook attempted to get a slice of the pie with its own Portal devices. The Portal smart devices were marketed heavily for their video calling features, and with Amazon’s existing Echo devices offering video call feature via Skype with the latest update, things are going to get very difficult for Portal.

Users who link their Skype and Alexa devices will get access to 200 free Skype minutes. The free talk time is spread across two months of usage with 100 minutes available in the first two months. The support for voice calls goes all the way back up to the first gen Amazon echo device so you do not have to worry about compatibility as any Amazon smart speaker will work.

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