A new report from The Verge highlights that Amazon has launched group video and audio calling support for Echo devices. Moreover, this feature will soon be available for the Amazon Alexa app.
We have Christmas and new year knocking right on our doors and the rollout of this feature is just in time for the holidays. Up to seven participants can join the group video or audio calls on Amazon Echo devices.
The supported Echo devices include Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Show. Amazon is launching this group video and audio feature for Echo devices in Austria, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, the US, and the UK.
You will be able to create groups and add members to the group. Besides, you can also personalize the group by changing the name using the Alexa app.
Adult contacts can be added to the groups. Your friends and family members need to opt into a group to be a part of group calls. You will also be able to make use of Alexa commands.
Meaning that you simply need to say, “Alexa, call my family” to connect to all the members in a “family” group you have created for a video or audio call.
Amazon Echo group video calling could be a great alternative to Zoom calls
For users, especially this holiday season, the Amazon Echo group video calling feature would be a great alternative to Zoom calls. Because there are no limits on-call times.
This allows the Amazon Echo owners to continue with a group calling for as long as they want and that too for free. However, you need to have the supported Amazon Echo devices in order to make use of this new feature.
But soon that will not be required as Amazon is planning to bring this group video and audio calling feature available via the Amazon Alexa app.
Well, Zoom is also not far behind. Looking at the competition, it has also lifted the 40-min call limit for several upcoming holidays. Microsoft has also done the same. Additionally, Google is also offering unlimited Meet calls until March 2021.
From all such offers, it is the end consumers that are benefitting, and this is rightfully so. Along with group video calling features, Amazon is adding some US-specific Alexa features as well.
Apparently, Echo Show 8 devices can now join video calls on Zoom and Amazon Chime using Alexa for US users. You simply need to say, “Alexa, join my Zoom meeting” to join the group calls.
Apart from this, call captioning is also being added to Echo Show devices. This call captioning feature is almost real-time and is available in US English for video, audio, and drop in calls.