Earlier this year, Amazon began to allow Echo customers to use its AI device to make and receive calls and texts; the update was launched alongside the Echo Show. In a new update to the Amazon Alexa app on iOS, users now have the ability to block contacts from calling and messaging you over Alexa, a feature which was strangely omitted initially.
The changelog for the new update includes the following changes:
- Bug fixes and performance enhancements
- The ability to block contacts from calling and messaging you. Scroll down on the contact list and tap the “Block Contacts” button
The Android app, which was last updated on June 9, hasn"t received the update just yet but it could be along quite soon. It looks like for the time being, an app is required to block contacts from ringing through to you on the Echo as the options are not available from Alexa’s web settings.
Blocking callers from the app is, right now, the only reasonable way to stop unwanted calls, although Amazon does have a less reasonable way to disable the feature altogether; it requires making a phone call to Amazon customer services asking for it to be switched off.