Remember screaming, “Dinner’s ready!” Or maybe you had a fancy built-in intercom system in your house? Those clunky old systems feel outdated today, but man, were they handy.
Good news: You have access to the future world version if you own any smart speakers. It’s super easy to set up. Let me show you how.
Hey Alexa, help me out
To get started, you need a few Amazon Echos. I like the Echo Dot (54% off!) and this one is sweet because it also has a built-in clock.
Make sure they’re linked to the same Amazon account or Amazon Household. And they also need to be on the same Wi-Fi network. Hey, it’s the details.
You also need to enable Drop In and Announcements. Open the Alexa app, then tap Devices > Echo and Alexa > “Device Name“> Cog icon > Communications > Drop In + Announcements.
Now, the fun part.
- Say, “Alexa, drop in on…” followed by the speaker’s name.
- Wait for a tone (and a green light on the receiving speaker), then start talkin’. Here’s what I might say to Barry, “Alexa, drop in on the bedroom speaker; come on, we’re late!”
FYI, Drop In won’t end until someone says, “Alexa, end drop in” or “Alexa, hang up.” To send a one-off message, say, “Alexa, announce …” like “Alexa, announce it’s bedtime!”
Google folks, let’s do this
Google Nest speakers use the “broadcast” command for intercom shenanigans. There’s no setup as long as your Google Nest speakers are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Say, “Hey Google, broadcast…” followed by your message. Like, “Hey Google, broadcast, the food is getting cold!”
- You can also say, “shout, tell everyone or announce” instead of “broadcast.” Shout makes me laugh!
To send a message to a specific speaker, say, “Hey Google, broadcast to…” followed by the speaker’s name and the message. “Hey Google, broadcast to the kid’s room, who wants dessert?”
To reply, say, “Hey Google, reply…” and your message will be sent to the speaker the broadcast came from. “Hey Google, reply, just five more minutes!”
Use an Apple HomePod? I gotcha
If you have an Apple HomePod and the Apple Home app installed, you’re in luck because the “Intercom” feature is usually turned on by default. Check by going into the Home app and tapping the More button > Home Settings > Intercom.
Inside those same “Intercom Settings“ is where things get interesting. Apple lets you decide which HomePod can be used as an intercom and who can access it remotely. Go ahead and tell everyone you’re bringing home pizza!
To send a broadcast on all HomePod speakers:
- Stand near your Apple HomePod.
- Say, “Hey Siri, intercom…” followed by your message.
- For example, “Hey Siri, intercom, everyone come downstairs!”
To send a broadcast to a specific HomePod speaker:
- Stand near your Apple HomePod.
- Say, “Hey Siri, intercom…” followed by the HomePod name and the message.
- For example, “Hey Siri, intercom, guest room speaker, would you like an extra blanket?”
To send a broadcast remotely:
- Open the Home app.
- Select the wavelength icon in the right corner.
- Speak and tap Done.
Recipients can then reply to the intercom message by saying, “Hey Siri, reply…” or “Hey Siri, reply to living room speaker,” followed by their message.
Before you go, check out a few of my smart speaker security settings suggestions. (Then say that three times fast.)
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