Amazon and Google are looking into bringing voice calls to their home devices, the Amazon Echo and Google Home, people familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal.
The devices would be used to make or receive calls and could potentially replace the home phone.
Google and Amazon might launch the feature this year, but could be delayed due to concerns about privacy, emergency services and telecom regulations. Making and receiving calls on the speakerphone instead of privately like on a smartphone, could also limit the use of the feature.
Amazon is considering various options, syncing to the owner’s current phone number, call forwarding, or a sole phone number for the Echo. The company is also working on how to switch from speakerphone when the user leaves the room or house, according to the Journal .
The rumored feature comes as both the Amazon Echo and Google Home spiked in popularity this year.
Sales of the Echo, powered by Alexa, rose after Thanksgiving last year, with Cyber Monday sales of the Amazon Echo family devices up seven times more than 2015. Amazon Echo in black is priced at $139.99.
Google rolled out its own digital assistant device, Google Home last year, priced at $129.
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