Alexa for Android gets voice commands, giving everyone an Echo
Amazon is bringing Alexa’s dulcet tones to the assistant’s Android app, enabling users to interact with the app as they would an Echo device.
The roll out will dramatically enhance the functionality of the app, which has previously been used for administrative matters like altering Echo settings and adding new Skills.
Now Alexa app users will be able to request information, play music and access the wide range of Alexa Skills simply by talking to their handset.
Thanks to this launch, if you have a Bluetooth speaker you connect your phone to, you effectively have an Amazon Echo too.
Alexa vs Assistant?
The app, which rolls out this week, will expand Alexa functionality to a massive range of Android phones and it’ll directly challenge the Google Assistant on its in own turf.
Assistant will will have the upper hand, as voice controls will only be active when the app is open, according to Android Police.
The update is currently rolling out on the Google Play store and the Amazon Appstore for Android and will continue over the next few days.
Related: Amazon Echo problems and how to solve them
Amazon has been building the functionality into some smartphones, like the HTC U 11, Huawei Mate 9 and Moto X4.
Amazon also says a version of the app is coming to iOS, but it’s going to take a while before Apple approves it. Even then, there may be more limitations on the app when compared with the Android version.
Have you sampled the new Alexa app for Android? Share your initial review with us @TrustedReviews on Twitter.