Amazon reportedly has new tech in the works that could let you talk to anyone in any room in your house. Yes, Amazon just re-invented the intercom, only this time it's going to be built into the Echo.
Rumors surfaced last month that pointed to Amazon and Google's plans to bring home phone functionality to their smart hub assistants, the Echo and Home. It's a logical step for the household-based smart devices -- but it might not end there.
Multiple anonymous sources told Recodethat Amazon is moving forward with its telephony project and is also working to turn Echo devices into a smart intercom system for the home. The sources claim the devices, which are currently in beta testing within the company, could be announced in the coming months.
Any room in the house with an Echo product could conceivably be connected to the system -- and Amazon's voice-command tech means that all you have to do to strike up a conversation with, say, your mom in the kitchen, is ask Alexa. You won't even have to get up and walk over to a console, like old-school wall-based intercom systems from back in the day.
Just imagine how much easier asking Alexa could be than yelling up to her to whip up some dinner from your basement abode.
Amazon reps declined to comment on the reports.
An Alexa-based intercom system has more potential issues than making us all more lazy, though -- prosecutors recently requested Amazon hand over voice data collected by and Echo as evidence in a murder trial. Amazon has so far refused, but turning the Echo into a portal for real-world conversations brings up questions about what technology will be involved, and whether those conversations will be in any way stored, even locally.
TopicsAmazon AlexaAmazon Echo
(责任编辑：百科)
This weird squid looks like it has googly eyes, guys
Marine conservation efforts just took a major step forward
Adorable barber shop dog just wants a little off the ears, please
Have 'A Perfect Day in Los Angeles' with VR from Jaunt and TastemadeMajor earthquake and multiple aftershocks rock central ItalyMan stumbles upon his phone background in real life
Life imitates tech. Or, perhaps it's the other way around.Reddit user xbshooterwas traveling near Sa
...[详细]Good news, earthlings! David's Bowie's final studio recordings will be released
David Bowie's stellar discography is about to have three new gems -- Bowie's final studio recordings
...[详细]Instagram is rolling out its tool to filter offensive comments to all users
As predicted, Instagram is rolling out a comment filter to all Instagram users.While the disappearan
...[详细]Kanye West says phones disrupt his creative process
Kanye West would only need a phone under the apocalyptic circumstances of a Kris Humphries and Kim K
...[详细]WhatsApp announces plans to share user data with Facebook
Big changes are coming to WhatsApp.
。On Thursday, WhatsApp announced in a blog post it will begin sha
...[详细]What have Colin Kaepernick's protests accomplished?
There's a strange but predictable phenomenon today: Moments and conversations of actual significance
...[详细]There's still money in new media — if you've got the right résumé
Josh Topolsky cofounded The Vergeand helped launch what is now known as Vox Media, which has grown i
...[详细]
LONDON -- There are some books out there that are just unanimously enjoyed by everyone, right? Certa
...[详细]Pokémon Go is so big that it has its own VR porn parody now
Behind every great entertainment property there's a cheekily named porn parody. Super Hornio Bros. G
...[详细]Why this Muslim teenage girl created a hijab emoji
Over the last year, emoji developers and public figures have argued that the universal emoji keyboar
...[详细]Chinese gymnastics team horrifies crowd with human jump rope
This Jet Black AirPods concept is a great take on Apple's new wireless headphones
