About this app

Phone Link connects your Alexa device, such as an Amazon Echo speaker, to your phone or tablet, giving you the ability to read out and send text messages, make phone calls, locate a lost device, and stream music and audio files. Use this app in combination with the Phone Link Alexa skill.

Here's what's included:

ADVANCED PHONE AND TABLET LOCATOR:

If your device is close by, you can make it ring - even if it's in silent mode or has the do not disturb setting turned on. If the device is further away, you can get its approximate address. Just say something like "Ask Phone Link to ring my phone" or "Ask Phone Link to find my tablet".

PHONE CALLS:

You can ask Alexa to start a phone call on your phone. It will even turn on your phone's speakerphone if you don't have a Bluetooth connection. Just say something like "Ask phone link to call John Smith".

TEXT MESSAGING:

Phone link can read out and send text messages from many popular apps, including Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, your phone's SMS app, and many others. It is also able to read and reply to messages received in Gmail. It works by monitoring your notifications for incoming messages. This is the same system used by Wear OS and Android Auto. Just say something like "Ask Phone Link to send a text to Jane Doe." or "Ask Phone Link to read my messages."

If supported by your Alexa device, you can optionally have Alexa notify you when you have unread messages. When you see the notification light, just say "Alexa, what did I miss?"

MUSIC AND AUDIO STREAMING:

Stream music and audio files stored on your Android device to your Alexa device or app, giving Alexa access to your entire mp3 collection. You can direct Alexa to play by playlist, title, album, artist, or genre. The Phone Link app can be used to set up your playlists.

To start playback, just say something like "Ask Phone Link to play my workout playlist" or "Ask Phone Link to play some rock music".

WORKS WITH ECHO AUTO AND IN-CAR SYSTEMS:

Phone Link works with the Echo Auto and in-car systems, providing a safe way to send and receive text messages hands-free.

SUPPORTS FAMILIES AND PARENTAL MONITORING:

You can use phone link with multiple devices in your household. Just include the device's name in your voice command (e.g, "Ask Phone Link to find John's Phone"). Parents can use it to monitor the location of their children as well as the text messages they are receiving.

COMPATIBILITY:

Phone link works with Amazon Echo devices, the Echo Auto, Fire TV, and third party devices and apps such as Ultimate Alexa.

GETTING STARTED:

Install this app and follow the on-screen instructions. You can enable the Alexa skill and link it to your Amazon account within the app.

PRIVACY:

Your privacy is very important. Text messages and contact information are stored on your phone and nowhere else. Even when you ask Alexa to read or send a message, the message is routed between your phone and Alexa device without any storage occurring on our servers.

New features

This release includes updates to support the latest versions of Android. This also fixes an issue in which the phone's speakerphone was not turning on on some devices.

App Permissions

Allows read only access to phone state, including the phone number of the device, current cellular network information, the status of any ongoing calls, and a list of any PhoneAccounts registered on the device.
Allows an application to initiate a phone call without going through the Dialer user interface for the user to confirm the call.
Allows an application to read the user's contacts data.
Allows an app to access approximate location.
Allows an app to access precise location.
Allows an app to create windows using the type TYPE_APPLICATION_OVERLAY, shown on top of all other apps.
Allows applications to open network sockets.
Allows an application to receive the ACTION_BOOT_COMPLETED that is broadcast after the system finishes booting.
Allows an application to modify global audio settings.
Permission an application must hold in order to use ACTION_REQUEST_IGNORE_BATTERY_OPTIMIZATIONS.
Allows applications to access information about Wi-Fi networks.
Allows applications to access information about networks.
Allows using PowerManager WakeLocks to keep processor from sleeping or screen from dimming.