Skype audio and video calling is now available on Alexa-powered devices, the latest integration to come out of the alliance between Amazon and Microsoft forged last year.
The feature was announced previously but is live now. Skype can be activated through the Amazon Alexa app, through the Communications tab within Settings.
Skype works on a variety of Alexa-powered devices, with audio calling for the original Echo and other Amazon smart speakers and video calling for the Echo Show. Microsoft is offering 100 free minutes for each of the first two months after linking Skype with Alexa.
Here are a few of the example commands from the Skype-Alexa website: “Alexa, Skype Mom; Alexa, call Dad on Skype; Alexa, pick up.”
The surprising partnership focused on voice control between cloud competitors Amazon and Microsoft dates back more than a year. Though it was a little slow out of the gate, in recent months the two companies have been quickly adding new integrations.
The first public display of the alliance came in May when the companies unveiled the ability to open Alexa on a Windows PC and call up Cortana on an Echo speaker. Last month, the two companies added the ability to control Xbox devices with either Alexa or Cortana.
