Amazon Echo family becomes your home's intercom system

Echo users can communicate with each other using calls and messages, but the online retailer claims people have been requesting a feature that takes communication to another level. Amazon introduced “drop-in” via the Echo Show, which pretty much turns the unit into an intercom system for your home. Said device will be launching in just a couple days, but Amazon is not waiting to bring this feature to its other main digital assistant speakers.

The Amazon Echo and Echo Dot are getting the same capability. Don’t expect it to show up just yet, though. Amazon tells us the “drop-in” feature will be rolling out over the next few days. Make sure to update your app and sit tight until it comes to you.

So, what is this drop-in feature all about? The idea is that you can communicate through Alexa-powered devices within your home. You could easily “drop in” on your kitchen’s Echo device to ask people what they are cooking, for example. Alternatively, you could use it to check on kids or elders who may need constant monitoring. And you can even contact your home’s Echo devices remotely, using the Alexa app.

Set up “drop-in” for Amazon Echo devices:

• Set up a name for each of your Echo devices.
• Enable “drop-in” for your home and Alexa app.

It sounds like a very helpful tool, but we also can’t deny it could be a bit intrusive. Once enabled, users can connect to any room unannounced. This can’t affect privacy in certain scenarios, which is why it’s good that the feature can be left turned off for specific devices.

Go ahead and let us know how you feel about this feature. Will you be taking advantage of it, or is it too intrusive? I personally wouldn’t let my family “drop-in” on me at any time they choose to.