Turn your Echo into a phone: How to link Alexa to your AT&T number

Amazon and AT&T both offer a feature that allows AT&T customers to make and receive phone calls through Alexa-enabled devices, such as an Amazon Echo smart speaker. They just have to enable the capability first in the Amazon Alexa app. Here's what you need to do.

What's 'AT&T calling with Alexa'?

"AT&T calling with Alexa" is Amazon and AT&T's calling feature that they've teamed up to offer AT&T customers. When enabled, AT&T customers with supported devices can start a phone call or answer an incoming call, even if their phone is out of reach, turned off, or dead from no battery power. It is powered by AT&T's NumberSync service that allows users to make phone calls on watches, tablets, computers, and now, Alexa devices.

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How to enable 'AT&T calling with Alexa'

"AT&T calling with Alexa" can be set up under your Alexa account.

1. Open the Amazon Alexa app on your mobile device.
2. Go to More > Settings > Communication
3. Select 'AT&T' and then follow the on-screen instructions to link your mobile number.

Note: You will need your AT&T login information to sign in to your AT&T account and link it with your compatible Alexa devices.

How does 'AT&T calling with Alexa' work?

You need an AT&T smartphone and an Echo device. Once you link them up and enable 'AT&T calling with Alexa', you can get started.

Place a call

Once enabled and linked, AT&T customers can say things like 'Alexa, call James' or 'Alexa, dial [phone number]'.

Answer a call

Alexa will announce a call by saying, 'Incoming call from Jessica' or whoever is calling. To respond, say, 'Alexa, answer" to an Alexa-enabled device like an Echo and carrying on a conversation through the device like normal.

Routines

You can also create an Alexa Routine that makes sure you'll only receive your calls through Alexa during evening hours, for example. You could trigger the routine to enable AT&T calls on your Alexa-enabled device when you say something like, 'Alexa, I'm home.'

Away mode

You can quickly turn off this feature when you're leaving home by switching on the 'Away Mode' setting in the Alexa app.

Is 'AT&T calling with Alexa' free to use?

There's no extra cost associated with using the feature, but you need an eligible AT&T mobile plan. It's available on post-paid plans for customers who own compatible HD-voice mobile phones, such as an iPhone or Samsung Galaxy device and others.

Where is 'AT&T calling with Alexa' available?

Only AT&T customers in the US can use this feature. They can place calls to anywhere in the US, Mexico, Canada, and the UK.

Keep in mind Amazon rolled out a similar feature elsewhere. Vodafone OneNumber customers in the UK and Germany and EE customers in the UK can link their mobile phone accounts, too. This announcement simply brings the feature to the US.

Want to know more?

Amazon offers a support page for 'AT&T calling with Alexa' here.

Check out other ways you can call people using Alexa, via our guide: How to use Amazon Alexa to make calls and send calls.

Source : https://www.pocket-lint.com/phones/news/amazon/153709-turn-your-echo-into-a-phone-how-to-link-alexa-to-your-at-t-number