Before too long it might be easier and quicker to list the things Amazon’s digital assistant can’t do rather than all the things it can. Case in point, Alexa just learned yet another trick, one of many of as of late. This newest trick, or “skill” as Amazon likes to call them, is the ability to transmit text messages. The caveat is that you have to be an AT&T subscriber to use the feature.
AT&T is in full braggadocios mode at being the first and so far only wireless carrier to offer this skill. Using it, AT&T subscribers can summon Alexa to dutifully transcribe their voice message into a text message and fire it off from their mobile number to someone on their contacts list.
“Amazon Echo is ahead of the curve in terms of voice recognition technology and functionality,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Device and Network Services Marketing. “AT&T is the first carrier to bring this unique skill to a product already known for innovation. We’re always working to bring simple solutions for our customers to stay in touch. In the tradition of NumberSync, another solution that was introduced at AT&T first, the Send Message Skill gives our customers another easy and convenient way to communicate.”
The pitch from AT&T is that this will come in handy when you’re in a hurry otherwise busy with your hands. Perhaps you’re washing the dishes or elbows deep in a mess as you’re changing a baby’s diaper. In those cases, you could summon Alexa to send a text message asking your significant other to pick up Thai food for dinner on the way home or to grab another bag of diapers from Walmart.
AT&T says you can add up to ten frequent contacts to the skill, though it’s not clear if you can send messages to all of them as a group or only individually.
