Some may argue that this is the humble beginning of a Matrix-like robot insurrection against humanity. In reality, this increased competition benefits consumers, as manufacturers are eager to innovate and add more useful features.
This guide will walk through how to send SMS via Alexa for both Android and iOS devices.
Send SMS via Alexa on Android
Enabling the text messaging feature on your Android device is simple. Before you begin, make sure that your Alexa app is updated to the latest version. To do so, open the Play Store and search for the Alexa app. If it can be updated, there will be a button labeled “Update.” Just tap on it to update the app. Once the update process has completed, open the Alexa app on your Android phone. Tap the Conversations tab. This will open a pop-up that details the new text messaging feature. From here, tap “Go to My Profile.” Note: if you do not see the pop-up, tap the “Contacts” icon (the one that looks like the outline of a person) and select “My Profile.”
Once you’re in your profile, scroll down until you see “Permissions.” Underneath that you will see a toggle labeled “Send SMS.” Tap on the toggle to enable it and hit “OK” to continue. At this point you should see a pop-up asking for your permission to allow Alexa to send and view SMS messages. Hit “Allow,” and you’re ready to go.
With this feature enabled, you will be able to send text messages to most US numbers, regardless of whether the recipient is using an Android or iOS device. Unfortunately, there are some minor limitations to this feature. You cannot send group texts or multimedia messages (MMS). Keep your fingers crossed meme lovers.
Send SMS via Alexa on iOS
Mastermind is a third-party skill available for Alexa-enabled devices that allows iOS and Android users to send hands-free text messages, make calls, read and manage app notifications, launch apps, toggle Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off and on, and much more. Once you’ve enabled Mastermind, you’ll be able to issue the following popular commands:
To send a text message, say “Alexa, Ask Mastermind to Send Message.” Mastermind will send the SMS message using your phone number. To find your phone, say “Alexa, Ask Mastermind to Call My Phone.” Your phone will be at full volume even if it’s in silent or do-not-disturb mode. When your phone rings, say “Alexa, Ask Mastermind Who’s Calling?” to find out who’s calling you. In addition, you can send unwanted calls straight to voicemail by saying “Alexa, Ask Mastermind to Reject Call.“ When your phone dings with a notification, say “Alexa, Ask Mastermind What Was That?” Mastermind will read the email, Facebook update, WhatsApp message, Tweet, Instagram post, etc. To make a hands-free phone call, say “Alexa, Ask Mastermind to Make Phone Call.” Mastermind will initiate the call from your phone or connected Bluetooth speaker.
As we mentioned earlier, Mastermind is capable of doing a lot more. Be sure to check the full command list if you’re on the fence about enabling the skill for your Alexa-enabled device. While Mastermind is free to enable on your Alexa-enabled devices, it is currently in a closed beta. This means that you’ll be added to a waiting list before you can actually use it. However, you can open your wallet to the tune of $15 in order to jump the queue. The developers claim that they grant access to the beta every day, but there is high demand, meaning you might be waiting for a while. Have you tried sending text messages via Alexa? Have you enabled the Mastermind skill? If so, what has your experience been like? Let us know in the comments!
