14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft and Amazon have teamed up to bring Skype to Alexa devices, with the new feature allowing for starting calls or answering with just a voice command.
Alexa already comes with video and voice calling service support, but with Skype compatibility, Amazon and Microsoft hope that a larger number of users would be targeted.
Thanks to the new feature, users are allowed to start new Skype voice and video calls and accept incoming Skype calls. Voice commands like “Alexa, call Jimmy on Skype” or “Alexa, answer,” are supported, according to Microsoft’s today announcement.
Additionally, the new implementation allows for SkypeOut calls to phone number across the world, though no details have been provided as to how users can start a voice call in this case.
“Alexa users will soon be able to take advantage of the high-quality Skype network across the globe to easily connect with others from any device type such as PC, mobile phone, and Xbox,” Microsoft says.
Going live later this year
Microsoft sees this new feature as a continuation of its collaboration with Amazon, which also includes support for Xbox One, technically allowing users to control certain features of the gaming console with the help of Alexa digital assistant.
“This is the next step in the collaboration between Microsoft and Amazon to deliver delightful customer experiences through voice, which began with joining Cortana and Alexa. Since then, we’ve added Alexa integration on Xbox and are continuing to work together to bring the best of Skype and Alexa together to enable intelligent communications for our users,” Microsoft says.
No other specifics were provided, by Microsoft says Skype with Alexa support will launch by the end of the year, probably sometime next month. Microsoft will hold a Surface event on October 2, and sharing additional news like today’s announcement is also possible.