Alexa with its new Number Share Home subscription plan. In the past, Verizon offered Number Share for use on tablets and smartwatches when a smartphone was not within reach. For example, Number Share can be super helpful when going out on a run with just a smartwatch, or when someone has accidentally left their phone at home but has their tablet with them.
Of course, Amazon's Alexa is super helpful for a number of things, Amazon's own devices, such as the Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Show smart display, the virtual assistant can also be found in a number of third-party devices as well.
Alexa has now gained the ability to make and answer calls from a Verizon phone number. According to the an Alexa Routine if they don't want Alexa to ring when they are not at home. The carrier further notes that live calls can be moved between an Alexa device to a "Verizon-distributed Android mobile phone," though it's not clear how that's achieved.
It Works Even If Your Phone Is Out Of Juice
Verizon is running a special promo for those looking to purchase an Amazon Echo device. Essentially, anyone who purchases an Amazon Echo device through the carrier will receive three months of Number Share Home for free. That saves $15 over the course of three months and allows the to test out the feature before paying the monthly fee, making it a good way to check if it is actually useful before committing. Worst case scenario, they will have an Amazon Echo device that they might have already been planning on buying.
For those deep in Apple's ecosystem, this might all sound familiar, as a HomePod or HomePod mini are able to dial and receive calls from the smart speaker while at home. Unlike Verizon's implementation, Apple's Handoff does require that the iPhone be on the same Wi-Fi network as the HomePod or HomePod mini. Due to this, and if making calls while a phone isn't on the same network (or potentially out of battery) sounds tempting, Verizon's subscription fee may be worth it.
Source: Verizon