Amazon Alexa to send hands-free text messages for AT&T customers

AT&T on Thursday announced customers will be able to send text messages hands-free through Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant, beginning on Friday.

Alexa is the voice assistant powering Amazon’s widely-popular Echo line of speakers.

With AT&T’s new Alexa skill, customers can ask to send a text, and Alexa will prompt them to speak the text message to send. Customers can add up to ten frequent contacts to the skill.

See: Amazon Echo review: Alexa is the first digital assistant that is actually helpful

“Amazon Echo is ahead of the curve in terms of voice recognition technology and functionality,” Jeff Bradley, SVP of device and network services marketing at AT&T, said. “AT&T is the first carrier to bring this unique skill to a product already known for innovation.”

AT&T will retail the Echo for $179 and Echo Dot for $49 in retail stores and online, starting Friday.