If you have a new Amazon Echo Show 8 and you want to try some of it’s new features, you might be watching this video because you’ve realized they’re not intuitive or easy to set up. So in this video I’ll show you how to set up Alexa Group Calling, which will allow you to call multiple people on your Show 8 2nd generation.
How to use Alexa Group Calling
To make or take part in a group call, you will first need to sign up to use Alexa Communication and then opt-in to use enhanced features, like Group Calling. And everyone involved needs either an Amazon Echo Show 8 2nd generation or thew Alexa app on their phone or tablet.
You and everyone else in your group needs to sign up for Alexa Communication in the Alexa app by tapping Communicate and verifying your mobile phone information. To do it, go to the More menu on the bottom right, then choose Settings, then Communication. Choose Enhanced Features and ensure the switch is toggled on.
With Group Calling, up to seven friends or family can join an audio or video call with Alexa. Only one user needs to create and name the group in their Alexa app, and then any member of that group can start a group call by saying, “Alexa, call my [group name].”
To create your group:
- Go to the Communicate tab in the Alexa app.
- Tap the icon in the upper right-hand corner, choose Add New, then Add Groups.
- Select at least two Alexa contacts you want included in your group.
- Enter a name for your group (for example: “College Friends”).
Once created, the group will show up in the Contacts page of each member. Once a group has been set up, simply say, “Alexa call my college friends” for the next happy hour or birthday celebration.
That’s it. Now you can talk to a group of friends or family all on one device with one simple command.
If you want to learn more about Amazon’s Echo range of smart speakers, smart speakers with screen, and smart digital assistant, you can check out my reviews of each of these devices (Amazon Echo Show 10, the 4th gen Echo and Echo Dot) here on the blog or the YouTube channel. If you have been waffling on whether or not to get one of these devices and want to know what it can do for you in your home, be sure to check out 15 Things you can do with Alexa.
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