Amazon Echo Connect Review: Good Concept, Too Many Requirements
The Amazon Echo Connect puts the integration of your home on a whole different level. And besides that the Echo Connect is able to make calls, it integrates with all other Echo devices and rings out when you have a call. The voice quality is top-of-the-line, which puts it in the same ranks as the Google Home/Home mini device. So here is our Echo Connect review.
Review price: $34.99
Discussion
In the wake of the recent updates to the Echo range of products, Amazon hasn’t stopped wowing customers. And with the release of the Echo Connect, the line is expected to get stronger.
The Amazon Echo Connect is a fairly compact device that makes calls and integrates with other Echo products to ring out if one has a call. This Echo Connect is a great invention by Amazon in its continuous quest to build upon its already existing smart home gadgets.
This device would obviously make a world of difference to some people than others. And due to difference in taste and preferences, the Echo Connect may not be seen as very useful to everyone.
The Amazon Echo Connect comes with several advantages; giving users the option of linking your home phone to other compatible Echo devices in your home. This makes it easy to make and receive calls with your voice from any part of your home.
Also, the Connect makes it easy to synchronize cell phone contacts, which makes the voice-activated phone calls more specific and accurate.
Besides the price of the Amazon Echo Connect; which is quite cheap, the setup is nothing compared to any other devices in the Echo range, it’s pretty much straightforward. All you need to do is connect after taking it out of the box.
Additionally, the Echo Connect integrates with almost all other devices in the Echo range such as:
- Echo 1st generation
- Echo 2nd generation
- Echo Dot 1st generation
- Echo Dot 2nd generation
- Echo Plus
- Echo Show
- Echo Spot
However, they are some downsides to the Echo Connect. The Amazon Echo Connect isn’t programmed to put calls on hold, so you should give this a thought if you’re constantly on the phone.
Besides that, the Connect does not have the option of entering numeric tones while you’re on the phone. This is unacceptable to a lot of people.
If you’re an ardent user of the Amazon Ecosystem, you might have a bit of a problem sometimes while using the Connect. It can be buggy sometimes, so you should also take note of this.
Another thing buyers need to take note of is the need of an iPhone with iOS 9 or above, or an Android with 5.0 or a higher version to use the Echo Connect.
This is necessary to the use of the Connect, and without this, the Connect wouldn’t be of any use to you. After downloading the Alexa app, you’d go through a phone number verification.
Moving forward with the items necessary for the Connect, you’d also need your landline gain access to a 2.4GHz or 5 GHz WI-Fi network.
Once all these are set, then your Echo Connect is ready to get to work.
As far as setup, the Echo Connect is quite easy to put together. With the exception of a phone and Wi-Fi connection, the device comes with everything you’d need to get it working like:
- Quick set-up guide
- Micro USB cable
- Power adapter
- Phone cable
- Phone line splitter
All you need to do is:
- Plug in the splitter where the phone line comes into the house
- Plug phone cable for Connect into device
- Plug phone cable for phone handset into phone
After these, pull up the Alexa app from your phone. And from the settings, click on set up new device then the follow the instructions.
It is important to note that the Echo Connect integrates with ONLY Amazon speakers.
Conclusion
Amazon’s Echo Connect scores high in terms of its extremely easy to use UI and seamless setup. But considering that you need a recent smartphone, and that it only integrates with Amazon speakers, this may not be a very good value buy. However, for people that just got involved in the business of a smart home, and are not so tech savvy, or overly enthusiastic about modern comms, the Amazon Echo Connect is a great start.
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