Echo & Alexa Forums

General Category => Alexa Software Development & Technical Discussion => Topic started by: reap707 on November 08, 2016, 02:34:44 pm

Title: Echo to control mobile phone apps
Post by: reap707 on November 08, 2016, 02:34:44 pm
I was wondering if anyone knew how i would go about having alexa control functions of a mobile app or if this is even possible.
Title: Re: Echo to control mobile phone apps
Post by: DParker on November 08, 2016, 03:39:02 pm
I was wondering if anyone knew how i would go about having alexa control functions of a mobile app or if this is even possible.

It's not natively supported, but there are some ways of accomplishing that to one degree or another (depending on exactly what it is that you're trying to do)...but they do require you to have a little bit of hacker in you to use.  What are you trying to accomplish, exactly?
Title: Re: Echo to control mobile phone apps
Post by: inconnu_homme on November 08, 2016, 05:11:01 pm
I was wondering if anyone knew how i would go about having alexa control functions of a mobile app or if this is even possible.

It's possible to have Alexa launch an app in a round-about way if you also have a SmartThings hub.  You would create a virtual switch and have a notification sent to your phone when that virtual switch is turned on.  Then have Tasker launch a specified app when the notification is received on your phone.  So when you tell Alexa to turn on the virtual switch, your phone receives a notification which triggers Tasker to launch a specified app.