Amazon Echo can now call around the house as an intercom

Recently, Amazon added the ability to use Alexa on their Echo devices to call and text people within your smartphone using your voice. Hands free calling anywhere you have an Echo device positioned within your home. This prove to be a perfect feature to demonstrate Alexa’s capabilities with and help sell the speakers/devices.

Now, Amazon has also included the ability to call other Echo devices around your house, essentially using them as an very lucrative and user-friendly intercom system. The new feature is called “Drop In”, and all you have to do is mention the name of the device you’d like to communication with.

“Alexa, drop in on the living room” or “Alexa, drop in on Krista’s room”

Amazon explains that once you have dropped in on the other Echo device, it will connect automatically, allowing you to hear anything within range of the device. If using an Echo Show, the screen will begin with a frosted effect for privacy and slowly clear up. Once you are finished with the call, you can say “hang up” (like normal) and it will end the connection. You can also “drop in” using the Alexa app if you aren’t near an Echo device.

It doesn’t just end there though. You can also “grant access” to select friends and family members, allowing them to call you or you call them.

Of course, if they are going to make it that easy, there will be a lot of complaints rolling in soon about privacy that may force them to make the feature ring the other device like a normal call, or make it one way unless the other end answers. This way you can’t just connect and begin eavesdropping (may be great for spying on your teen, but pretty much unacceptable across the board). Any device that you can use to spy on someone else with is going to get a lot of attention and come under a lot of fire eventually. Thankfully, you at least control who has access. So choose wisely and keep your Echo Show out of the bedroom or any other place of privacy.

Compatible Devices:

• Echo
• Echo Dot (1st Generation)
• Echo Dot (2nd Generation)
• Echo Show
• Alexa app (only for starting Drop In)