What is Alexa Together, how much does it cost, and how does it work?

(Pocket-lint) - Amazon is introducing an Alexa Together premium subscription service that expands upon its existing Alexa Care Hub. For a fee, Alexa Together makes it easier to use Alexa and Echo speakers to both assist and check in on elderly loved ones or those who need a caregiver.

What is Alexa Together and how does it work?

Amazon describes Alexa Together as a new way to "provide support for your loved ones, keeping you together even when you're apart". It's a subscription service that costs a monthly fee. So, for a price, you get access to six caregiver features:

The most interesting features are Urgent Response and Fall Detection Response.Urgent Response is essentially 24/7 hands-free access to a professional emergency helpline. It allows a user to say to an Echo speaker: "Alexa, call for help". They will then be connected with an agent, who can request the police or fire department. Alexa will also send a notification to the caregiver.

Fall Detection Response requires third-party hardware from Assistive Technology Services (ATS) and Vayyar. ATS’s SkyAngelCare is a fall-detection pendant that communicates over Wi-Fi to Alexa, while Vayyar Care is a wall-mounted device that uses sensors and radio waves to detect falls. Both devices enable Alexa to ask a user if they want to call Urgent Response, rather than waiting for the user to ask for help.

Beyond the upfront cost of the device and the Alexa Together monthly subscription cost, there are no fees to use SkyAngelCare and Vayyar Care.

TheRemote Assist feature is also notable, as it allows a caregiver access to a person’s Alexa account, with their permission, in order to remotely set up features - like setting reminders, adding contacts, creating shopping lists, and linking music and video services.

TheActivity FeedandCustomised Alerts from Alexa Care Hub are now part of Alexa Together, too. They allow a caregiver to know if their loved one is up and moving around, by providing an alert in the Alexa app once the person first interacts with Alexa. Alexa Together works with other Alexa-compatible smart home devices to register activity, as well, including smart lights, thermostats, motion sensors, and so on.

Finally, there's the ability to add multiple caregivers (up to 10), throughCircle of Support. This feature is coming in early 2022.

How much is Alexa Together?

Alexa Together costs $19.99 a month (or $199 per year). It expands upon the free Alexa Care Hub service, by providing a professional monitoring service and other helpful features. There is a six-month free trial, but all existing Alexa Care Hub customers get a free year of Alexa Together.

Does Alexa Together replace Alexa Care Hub?

No. Alexa Together expands upon the free Alexa Care Hub service.

This is a great option if you're looking for a new video doorbell.

While Alexa Care Hub lets you remotely check in on a loved one and get alerts when they first use Alexa or Echo devices, Alexa Together adds a professional monitoring service to the mix. It can call emergency services for your loved one and offers fall detection via third-party hardware.

How to set up Alexa Together

Getting started

To get started, you need an Alexa Together subscription, an Echo device, Wi-Fi connection, and Amazon.com accounts for you and your loved one. They need to sign in to their Amazon account and will need a mobile phone number to receive a verification code during the setup process.

If you are the person providing support to a loved one, you only need the Alexa app downloaded to your phone. For a better experience, Amazon recommends the person providing support also has an Echo device to use features like Alexa Calling or Drop In, or to enable video chat.

Need more help? Download Amazon's Alexa Together Set Up Guide here.

Which Echo devices support Alexa Together?

All of Amazon's latest Echo devices support Alexa Together, though a model with a camera is probably best so you can Drop In or video chat with your loved ones. Amazon is offering a six-month free trial of Alexa Together as a bundle with the newest Echo Show 8, which you can buy here.

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Also check out:Which Echo device is best for you?

Where is Alexa Together available?

At launch, Alexa Together is available in the US.

Want to know more?

Amazon has an entire FAQ page for Alexa Together here.