Amazon rolls out typed instructions feature in Alexa for iPhone users
Tech company Amazon has started rolling out a new feature for iPhone users, allowing them to initiate a text message to their assistant rather than using voice to communicate with the speaker.
According to Mashable, however, the new feature is not available to everyone at the moment.
The new Alexa text messaging feature was released as a public preview on iOS, according to the company, which confirmed the feature to The Verge following reports from some users.
Users will need the Alexa app for iOS, assuming one is in the United States. It’s unclear when the feature will arrive for Android and other markets.
According to Mashable, Google Assistant has long supported users’ text entry.
There is a good reason to have this option because if some users have difficulty communicating verbally with an assistant due to, for example, a speech impediment.
Users who have access to the public preview will see a keyboard in the top corner of the app; tap this icon to display the text stream.
According to Amazon, users can type anything they could otherwise say to the speaker, such as telling them to turn off the lights or asking a question.
All in all, this isn’t a huge change for most users, but it’s a change that some people will surely find practical. The rest of the app remains the same.
