Microsoft and Amazon have signalled another step in their co-operative approach, with the former’s chat app Skype now integrating with the latter’s virtual assistant, Alexa.

Supported actions

Skype is set to be a fully supported comms option on Alexa-driven devices.

Users will be able to tell Amazon’s popular AI-driven virtual assistant to place outgoing Skype calls, and accept incoming ones.

They say it will also support the use of paid Skype services to call other (non-Skype) phone numbers.

Say the word

The Skype blog gives examples of the relevant commands that Alexa will recognise as the support framework launches.

To make a call, users will be able to say ‘Alexa, call Jimmy on Skype’.

To answer an incoming Skype call, users can use the even simpler command ‘Alexa, answer’.

Integration and expansion

Earlier in the year, the two companies announced they were integrating their virtual assistants. By late 2017, Alexa devices were estimated to have hit 20 million in sales.

In the last month Amazon announced more new Alexa integrations, including and in-car assistant and a voice-activated microwave.

As the partnership develops, you’ll soon be able to Skype your microwave and tell it to warm up the leftovers as you commute home.

Is the Amazon/Microsoft collaboration going to benefit consumers, or will the consolidation ultimately limit our options?

Copy Transmission is a Melbourne-based agency :: Better Brands. Loud & Clear.