Amazon rolling out room-to-room intercom between Echo devices in the same household

Amazon has a new software update for its Echo products, enabling users with multiple Echos to use them as a room-to-room intercom system. The new feature is rolling out over the next few days, and will be available for the Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Show.

With the intercom features, users will be able to single out a specific Echo device and communicate with it directly. For example, using an Echo in your kitchen to call family members from the living room, or letting someone in an office know that they have a guest from the front door.

You’ll need to set up two things to enable the intercom feature on your Echo devices: first, each individual Echo needs to have its own room name configured on the Alexa app, and you’ll need to make sure that drop-in is enabled within your house as well as in the Alexa app.

Additionally, users will be able to use the intercom feature from outside their homes through the Alexa app. Amazon suggests that parents could use the feature to keep an eye on children, or for adults looking to check in on elderly parents. Similar to the drop-in feature on the Echo Show, once enabled there doesn’t seem to be a way to block the intercom, so it’s worth making sure that you’re okay with family members dropping in on you unannounced before you set it up.