Bob Milliken
Bob Milliken

Amazon has been at it again, this time with some new outstanding features for Alexa. Alexa is Amazon’s counterpart to Microsoft’s Cortana and Apple’s Siri and is an intelligent personal assistant that can perform various tasks for its ‘master.’ Based on a recently released patent, the eCommerce company is set to reveal a wireless phone system powered by this artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

 Here’s what you need to know

Amazon’s 3D-enabled Fire Phone was its first attempt at launching a smartphone, but it failed to set the mobile phone market ablaze. Based on the company’s recent voice-controlled phone patent, they are developing a smarter and more practical wireless phone technology, which will be integrated into their successful smart speaker devices, Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Show.

The system will work by linking a mobile number to the Alexa devices, which would have a mechanism for notifying the user of incoming calls, answering calls via the smart speaker itself, as well as placing calls by giving commands to Alexa. What makes the Alexa-powered devices a compelling phone system is its ability to identify users based on a voice recognition system already built into the devices.

Note, however, that the mobile carrier would still be providing the communication service, with the Alexa device serving only as a medium, which is how most VoIP communications works.

Amazon What it means for your business

Amazon’s Alexa-powered devices are attractive for their voice-control technology. Although they did not pioneer it, they integrated it with devices that allowed them to go beyond what other AI devices can do. The Echo Dot, for instance, is especially useful to those who use a variety of Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled devices, such as lights, switches, and TVs, to name just a few.

Its voice recognition capabilities are also a cut above the rest, being able to recognize voice and adopt your speech patterns the more you use it. It can also serve as an all-around assistant in a room or in any office setting, helping you check the weather, send a message, or provide calendar event updates.

 Take Away …

We can expect more from Amazon as it develops Alexa into a formidable home or office phone system that can easily find contacts, screen callers, or conveniently set up conference calls — all by voice command. Until then there are plenty of communication options for your business, and while there’s nothing quite like the Alexa phones yet, there are plenty of viable substitutes that can suit your business’s communication needs.

To learn about how a VoIP solution will benefit your business and save you money, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today! Call Bob at 604.270.1730.

 Bob Milliken is the TheITguy@CascadiaSystemsGroup.com specializing in helping your businesses communicate with their business. Discover how great local IT services can be.  604.270.1730.