Amazon rolls out voice control to Alexa app on iOS
Amazon has finally brought voice control to its Alexa app on iOS. Until now, users could only use the app for setting up their Echo devices. But now, they can use it as a digital Assistant that will respond to spoken commands. Earlier in January, Amazon launched this functionality on Android, a move that marked the company's push towards third-party mobile devices vis-à-vis Alexa.
Ask questions, listen to music, access skills, control smart devices
With the update, users can ask Alexa about weather forecasts and movie times via their iPhones. It can be used to adjust smart lights or play music. Users can also use trigger words to summon Alexa Skills and ask the digital assistant questions about sports and history. Responses to some queries will be accompanied with on-screen details, offering an additional visual component.
The update makes Alexa on iOS almost hands-free
However, voice control is not baked-in natively in the Alexa app and you'll still have to press a button to activate it. This means you can't just simply say "Hey Alexa" to wake it up and make it start listening. Please note that on iOS devices, this particular functionality is reserved for Apple's own digital assistant Siri.
Amazon at a disadvantage in the smart assistant race
Out of Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa, Alexa is the only digital assistant without a major mobile footprint. This is primarily because, like Apple and Google, Amazon does not have a native smartphone ecosystem. This is why it is trying to boost Alexa's mobile usage.
