Alexa for Business | Calling and conferencing

Question 1

Do shared devices support timers, alarms, and lists?

Calling and conferencing

Alexa for Business | Business Productivity

Answer 1

Yes, users can use a shared device to set a timer or alarm or add items to a list. However, Alexa for Business provides a capability that allows you to reset a shared device from the console, or using the AWS SDK. You can reset a device to clear timers, alarms, shopping list, to-do list, the history of Bluetooth connections, and set the volume level back to 50%.

Question 2

How can I use Alexa in my conference rooms?

Calling and conferencing

Alexa for Business | Business Productivity

Answer 2

Shared Alexa devices can be used in conference rooms in two ways. First, you can use your Alexa to join conference calls directly from the Amazon Echo device in the room as an audio conferencing device. Second, Alexa can be used to control your existing in-room video conferencing equipment. In both cases, you can provide access to the room calendar in the Alexa for Business console so that Alexa can determine how to join the meeting.

Question 3

Which meeting room equipment works with Alexa for Business

Calling and conferencing

Alexa for Business | Business Productivity

Question 4

Alexa for Business works with the most popular video conferencing and in-room systems including Polycom, Cisco TelePresence, Crestron, and Zoom Rooms. In addition, the Alexa for Business APIs allow you to build skills so that Alexa can work with additional equipment or perform specific tasks in your conference rooms. To learn how to enable your equipment to communicate with Alexa, click here.

Calling and conferencing

Alexa for Business | Business Productivity

Question 5

What can users ask Alexa in conference rooms?

Calling and conferencing

Alexa for Business | Business Productivity

Answer 5

Users can say “Alexa, start my meetingâ€

Question 6

How does Alexa for Business know what meeting to join?

Calling and conferencing

Alexa for Business | Business Productivity

Answer 6

You can connect Alexa for Business to Google G-Suite, Office365, or Microsoft Exchange calendars. Alexa for Business utilizes this calendar integration to look up the dial-in information of the scheduled meeting. Alexa for Business can look up meeting dial-in information from the most used conferencing providers including Amazon Chime, Cisco WebEx, Zoom, BlueJeans, and Skype for Business. If there is no scheduled meeting, or Alexa cannot determine the dial-in information, users will be prompted for the meeting ID and optional PIN for the default conferencing provider that you specified in the Alexa for Business console.

For video conferencing and in-room systems that are already connected with the calendar system, Alexa will leverage the existing calendar integration to automatically dial into scheduled meetings.

Question 7

How do I enable outbound calling for my shared devices?

Calling and conferencing

Alexa for Business | Business Productivity

Answer 7

Outbound calling is by default enabled for shared devices. You can disable outbound calling by changing the setting in your room profiles, using the Alexa for Business console.

Note: Alexa does not currently support inbound calls from mobile or landline phones