The internet-connected speaker lets you order dinner, check the weather, turn on the lights, adjust your thermostat, call a cab, play radio stations, podcasts, music and more, using only your voice.
However the service has been slightly limited so far in that you need to be near the Echo to use it.
This is all about to change, though, as the device’s stand-out feature is about to land on your phone.
That’s because Amazon is finally bringing the Alexa smart assistant to your phone.
The company has updated its iPhone app to include Alexa for the first time, giving you the opportunity to ask thousands of questions and queries that previously needed the Amazon Echo to complete.
Simply open up the Amazon app and you’ll see a microphone icon at the top of the screen.
Pressing this will activate Alexa, who will now be able to react and hopefully answer your query.
This covers everything from asking about the weather, checking the news headlines and traffic information, and even making purchases from Amazon itself.
Alexa also brings access to millions of songs, albums and radio stations, and now has thousands of possible actions or “skills”.
Thanks to the new release, you can now use Alexa on your phone to listen to music from Amazon Music Unlimited or Prime Music, as well as playing Kindle books.
The updated Amazon app is rolling out this week, with US customers getting the first experience, however the upgrade only appears to be on iOS devices for now.
Alexa also can’t be used as a standalone voice assistant, taking the place of Siri on your iPhone, but instead needs to be launched form the Amazon app each time you want to use it.
The news is the latest upgrade to the Amazon Echo and Alexa in recent weeks as the product continues to go from strength to strength.
One planned update to Alexa will reportedly soon allow the service to tell different users apart just by the sound of their voice.
The new ‘Voice ID’ service would allow the Amazon Echo’s ability to make personalised recommendations for products such as songs or other media.
Voice ID could also be used to authenticate any purchases made through Alexa securely, meaning there’s no risk of children accidentally running up large bills.
It could also help tailor weather and news information to users with different tastes, or traffic information to those heading to separate destinations.
Other reports have claimed that the Amazon Echo will soon be able to make and receive voice calls.
The new product would allow users to make a call through a voice command to Alexa, much like the current practice.
This would then automatically connect the user with their contact, with the call being carried out over the Wi-Fi network being used by the Echo.
The feature could also allow users to set up a long-range intercom system, allowing users to stay connected wherever they are in the world.
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