'Alexa Built-In' phones to lose key feature as Amazon cedes ground to Apple and Google - GeekWire

(GeekWire File Photo / Nat Levy)

Unlike Google and Apple, Amazon doesn’t person a smartphone level of its ain for autochthonal integration of its dependable assistant, aft the short-lived Amazon Fire Phone. However, the institution has worked with immoderate Android instrumentality makers successful caller years to replicate the effect connected what are known arsenic “Alexa Built-In” phones.

The main selling point: the quality to activate and interact with Alexa utilizing dependable commands from anyplace successful the phone, including the fastener screen, whether oregon not the Alexa app is open.

But successful messages this week, Amazon informed users that the systemwide hands-free capableness is officially ending for Alexa Built-In phones arsenic of March 31, 2023.

A institution spokesperson confirmed the plan: “We regularly reappraisal our features to guarantee we are investing successful services that volition delight customers, and person decided to suspend enactment for this feature.”

With the move, Amazon besides plans to extremity its broader enactment for Alexa Built-In phones, though decisions astir further income of the phones volition yet beryllium up to the company’s hardware partners.

Users volition inactive beryllium capable to entree Alexa connected Android and iOS smartphones erstwhile the Alexa app is open, including the enactment for hands-free entree wrong the Alexa app.

Amazon is “continuing to put successful the Alexa experience wrong the Alexa app to supply customers with a seamless mode to entree their favourite features and experiences,” the spokesperson said.

The institution didn’t connection much item connected the reasons for the change, but provided a further hint by noting that Android operating strategy updates whitethorn interaction the hands-free acquisition earlier the March 31, 2023, cutoff date. Google regularly updates Android, and the diagnostic relies successful portion connected systemwide microphone access.

The Alexa and devices part is 1 of the groups impacted by Amazon’s layoffs.