You Can Now Skype on Amazon Echo: Here's How

How To
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Here's how to make Skype calls with Alexa.

Just when you thought Alexa could do everything, another major feature drops. 

Credit: Tom's Guide

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Here's how to get started:

1. Open your Alexa app. 

2. Tap Settings > Communication > Skype. 

3. Enter your Skype account information. 

4. Say "Alexa, Skype Dad," or "Alexa, call 555-555-5555 on Skype." Make sure the person you're calling has the latest version of Skype. 

Voice and video calls aren't new for Alexa. You could already make calls between Alexa devices, including phones with the Alexa app. However, Skype integration taps a much larger user base of those who don't have Echo devices or the Alexa app.

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In the past year, Microsoft has found difficulty marketing Cortana as a consumer-facing voice assistant. This partnership with Amazon is its latest attempt to finally collaborate with Alexa. In August, the companies released a Cortana skill for Alexa, and an Alexa skill for Cortana, functionally allowing you to use one wherever you can use the other. And earlier this month, Amazon released a Windows 10 app that allows you to use Alexa on any PC. 

Meanwhile, this is bad news for Facebook, whose Portal device is built entirely around easy access to video chat.

Monica Chin

Monica Chin is a writer at The Verge, covering computers. Previously, she was a staff writer for Tom's Guide, where she wrote about everything from artificial intelligence to social media and the internet of things to. She had a particular focus on smart home, reviewing multiple devices. In her downtime, you can usually find her at poetry slams, attempting to exercise, or yelling at people on Twitter.