Echo & Alexa Forums
General Category => Alexa Across the Pond (Europe) => Topic started by: MartinB999 on March 15, 2018, 09:50:15 am
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Anyone heard any news about when we will be able to call any landline/mobile on the Alexa? My friend in the US can call anyone on his and he can call me on mine but i cannot call him. I spoke with Customer Service last week and they told me that it would probably be the end of March - but not holding my breath..........
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I haven't heard anything but they'll need to release it soon otherwise they may start losing customers to Google Home, since Google have now rolled support for making phone calls in the UK.
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Yes, I'm thinking the same StevenR. Best they get their fingers out over here........
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Anyone got any updates on this?
They seem to taking their time, dragging their feet getting this off the ground in the UK. I wonder why?
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Anyone got any updates on this?
They seem to taking their time, dragging their feet getting this off the ground in the UK. I wonder why?
I imagine they are reluctant, because of the cost to them of mobile phone termination charges. In the US landline and mobiles cost the same, but over here calls to mobiles are daft money.
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Anyone heard any news about when we will be able to call any landline/mobile on the Alexa? My friend in the US can call anyone on his and he can call me on mine but i cannot call him. I spoke with Customer Service last week and they told me that it would probably be the end of March - but not holding my breath..........
I wrote about 3 months ago on here wondering when landline calls would come etc........ still no news. I'm thinking of switching over to the google home set up now, replacing all eight of my devices and starting again. I have a friend with google home and it seems to be able to do much more (google searches etc) although the sound quality isn't what I am used to. Anyone else migrated or thinking of it? Pros and cons of doing so would be appreciated (I've read the web reviews but I think 99% of these are bias).............
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I am a tad confused here and the thought that amazon are dragging their feet because of mobile costs.
I was under the impression that echo connect was basically just a bridge to your landline that converted your speech and allowed the echo to be a speaker for the phone to make the call, the landline was being used for all costs.
To that end I do not understand why the echo connect has not been released in the UK and what difference a US version would have.. could a US model be imported and used in the UK?
Amazon are beginning to annoy me with releases in the US but not the UK
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Hi Jon, me too!
My mate has the set up in the US (Walnut Creek, SF) and has had no issues since it started. He tells me that all calls to mobiles and landlines are FREE, so they are not a part of his phone package. Maybe this could be the sticking point here in the UK? I got sick of waiting and have now migrated most of my alexas over to the google set up - and I get calls free on there to landlines AND mobiles in the UK. Very clear and crisp calls and easy to use. I can MAKE calls but you cannot accept calls on the system so you still have to pick up the phone for incoming calls.
Sadly I think the Alexa team have missed the boat here...............
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Just noticed that the connect has been removed from the amazon UK website.
Please god this means that they about to release it.
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Hey Jon - don't hold your breath!
I called Alexa customer support, they told me exactly the same as they have numerous times before....., "....the connect will be released in the UK very soon". When I tell them that they told me that in January, all I get is the standard, "sorry Sir, we don't have a release date for the UK as yet, but it will be soon"!!
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Well, just seen that they have put the page back up about the Echo Connect, "Coming in 2018". That seems a little lame after all the hype at the end of last year and Amazon telling me numerous times it was coming in March...... but let's see how it goes.........
https://www.amazon.co.uk/b?ie=UTF8&node=14157459031
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Download an app called. Mastermind
Enable it on the echo
It can send and read out sms and call and answer calls through Alexa.
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Download an app called. Mastermind
Enable it on the echo
It can send and read out sms and call and answer calls through Alexa.
Thanks. It’s not working on the iPhone yet. Hopefully soon.
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doh, obviously....
that reduces the volume on everything not just her voice....
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Its Here
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oh no...now do I buy this which I have been waiting for all year or wait for skype
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At long long last................ ! :)
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So how does it work? What is needed? Does it make the call through your phone?
Info people Info ;D ;D ;D
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So how does it work? What is needed? Does it make the call through your phone?
Info people Info ;D ;D ;D
Hi Smokie
Well it works by connecting either to your phone line or to your Router (this is used if you have a VOiP Line - I don't). Plug it in to the BT socket (or similar) plug the other lead in to the computer via usb or the plug adapter supplied into the mains electricity. You let it start up and while that's sorting, you follow the instructions on the screen - it's relatively easy really.
What is needed - well, a landline (or VOiP line) and you need to have the Alexa app installed somewhere (either your mobby or on your computer etc).
Yes, it makes phone calls through your landline. Once set up it looks at all your contacts stored in your phone etc and so you can say, "....Alexa, call Dad", or Alexa, call Jenny" etc. If you don't have the numbers stored in your phone or in the Alexa app you can just say, "Alexa, call 01647236432" etc, and she will call it. Mine always asks me, "did you mean 01647236432?" to which I say yes and she dials it. That's not a real number, but you get the gist. REMEMBER THOUGH - THESE CALLS ARE NOT FREE (as they are with the google set up), they are charged to your landline account.
When your landline rings, if the number is in your contacts she announces the caller by name, if not, she just tells you the number that is calling.
Hope this helps.
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Thanks for the detailed reply but I have a few questions regarding the below.
Plug it in to the BT socket (or similar) plug the other lead in to the computer via usb or the plug adapter supplied into the mains electricity. You let it start up and while that's sorting, you follow the instructions on the screen.
Plug alexa in? What lead? There's only power and Jack inputs on the back. What on screen instructions?
Thanks Again
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OK Smokie
On the back of the echo connect box there are two holes; one is the hole for the lead for power so you plug the supplied power lead in and then into either the wall electrical socket (using the plug supplied) or into a spare usb socket on the back of your computer (if this is where you are going to site the echo connect). The other hole in the back is for the phone line input/output. In the box was a lead to put in here, you just put this lead in the back of the box and then into the phone socket on the wall (your BT socket or similar), you can use the splitter supplied if you need to.
Once you have plugged both in and the lights come on, you need to open the Alexa app on your computer and follow the instuctions to set up a new device.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=help_search_1-2?ie=UTF8&nodeId=202209760&qid=1539419077&sr=1-2
Hope this explains.
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Thanks again but I see the problem. I don't have the echo connect. I only have the plus and dot.