Ing. Calogero Bono
Amazon has made Alexa.com available in Italy, the site that brings Alexa+ to the browser. For now only customers already part of the early access program can use it, the free program that started in spring. The news matters because the assistant no longer depends on an Echo or your phone. You can open it from any computer, and the conversation carries on across your devices.
A few terms before we get into the facts. Alexa+ is Amazon's version of the assistant, based on generative artificial intelligence. Early access is the free program that lets you try it before the general launch. Echo Show is Amazon's line of smart speakers with a screen. Smart home refers to the connected devices in your home, such as lights, thermostats and cameras. Upload is the transfer of a file from your computer to an online service.
What is Alexa.com and who can use it?
Alexa.com is the web version of Alexa+. According to DDay it is available to all early access customers, and Amazon had already indicated that the arrival of the browser was imminent at the Italian launch.
According to Punto Informatico the assistant had arrived in Italy in April. The site works with the main desktop browsers, from Chrome to Edge, including Firefox and Safari. Simply type your request or choose one of the suggestions below the chat window, as reported by HDblog.
What can you do on Alexa.com?
The interface includes the features already present in the app and on the Echo devices. You can get quick answers, create content, manage to-do lists and the family calendar, book a restaurant and prepare shopping lists. Reminders can then be viewed on Echo Show devices.
You can also upload documents, emails and images. Alexa+ extracts the main details, for example to add an appointment to the calendar. Smartworld reports Amazon's examples, such as the date of the dog's last vaccination or the times of the children's swimming lessons.
Do conversations stay the same on other devices?
Yes, this is the point that most sources stress. From the Recent chats section you can resume conversations started on an Echo or in the app, with preferences and personalisation unchanged.
For Smartworld the most interesting novelty is not the chat itself, but the continuity between devices. Amazon, the outlet writes, wants an assistant that remembers context and doesn't forget everything when you change screen. It is a line similar to what can also be seen in Siri AI, where Apple aims for a more agent-like assistant.
Can you control the home from the browser?
Yes. Smart home commands appear in the same chat window. You can switch on lights, adjust the thermostat and check security cameras even when away from home, without using your phone or your voice.
Amazon also ties the assistant to e-commerce. We had already covered this aspect in Alexa for Shopping and purchases via message. The browser adds one more entry point to an ecosystem that, as Smartworld notes, is becoming increasingly cohesive.
Limits to know
The service is open only to those already in early access. The free period has no fixed end date, so we don't know when payment will start. In Punto Informatico's test, file uploads never finished, even with lightweight documents. The outlet thinks it is a temporary glitch, but this is not confirmed. Amazon's disclaimer also remains, according to which Alexa may sometimes make mistakes.
What changes for those who work in digital
For those who work in digital, the entry point changes. An assistant you can use from the browser fits more easily into studios and small businesses, where calendars, deadlines and documents are managed at the computer. If you plan to hand it your emails and files, first check which data you upload and where it ends up. For those who build services, the signal is clear. The web channel matters as much as the app, and the experience has to stay consistent across different screens. After the free period, cost will be a factor, because for those without Prime it is 22.99 euros a month.
Our take
The move makes sense, but it is not yet a turning point. Bringing Alexa+ to the web is an expected step, and it removes the need to own an Echo. The real value lies in the memory shared across devices, not in the chat, which many now offer. We are less convinced by the upload that failed in the first test and by the price of 22.99 euros a month for those without Prime. It will be necessary to see whether the assistant is reliable enough to justify it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Alexa.com free in Italy?
For now yes, but only for those in early access. The free period has no end date yet. Afterwards Alexa+ will remain included with Prime and will cost 22.99 euros a month for other customers.
Do I need an Echo to use Alexa.com?
No. The site lets you use Alexa+ from the browser without an Echo and without the app. You do, however, need to be part of the early access program.
Which browsers does Alexa.com work with?
With all the main desktop browsers. Punto Informatico mentions Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari. HDblog says any browser.
Can I pick up a chat started on an Echo?
Yes. From the Recent chats section you can resume conversations started on an Echo or in the Alexa app. Preferences and personalisation stay as they were.
Can Alexa+ make mistakes?
Yes, like other artificial intelligence services. Amazon warns that Alexa may sometimes get things wrong. Always check dates, times and bookings before you rely on it.
What to watch in the coming weeks for Alexa+ in the browser
The launch has only just begun and many things will become clearer with use. It's worth keeping an eye on three aspects.
- Check whether Amazon sets an end date for the free period, because from that point the cost starts for those without Prime.
- Verify whether the file upload problem gets fixed before you entrust it with work documents.
- Keep an eye on whether access opens beyond early access, since that would change the number of users.
Sources
- dday.it, Alexa+ arriva sul web – il sito Alexa.com è disponibile anche in Italia
- smartworld.it, Alexa.com arriva in Italia – non serve né Echo, né l'app (più o meno)
- punto-informatico.it, Alexa+ arriva nel browser in Italia, è online su alexa.com
- hdblog.it, Alexa+ arriva sul web – l'assistente vocale di Amazon disponibile da browser in Italia
