How to use Intercom on HomePod, iPhone, AirPods and more

Apple’s new Intercom function, showcased throughout its current keynote alongside the disclosing of HomePod mini, can be on its method to iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and extra in future software program updates.

Prepare for its arrival by studying all it’s essential to learn about Intercom proper right here.

Intercom enables you to ship quick audio messages to virtually anybody with an Apple machine. It’s somewhat just like the Walkie-Talkie function you’ll discover in watchOS, besides it doesn’t require an Apple Watch.

The function works on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, HomePod and HomePod mini — and even AirPods and CarPlay. However there are a few essential caveats you want to pay attention to earlier than diving in.

A kind of is that Intercom requires iOS 14.2, watchOS 7.1, and HomePod 14.1, that are solely out there in beta for now. However if you wish to be prepared for Intercom’s public launch, right here’s all it’s essential to know.

What’s Intercom?

The large distinction between Intercom and Walkie-Talkie, apart from the truth that Walkie-Talkie is unique to Apple Watch, is that Intercom can be utilized to broadcast messages through HomePod and HomePod mini.

Whenever you’re driving dwelling from work, as an example, you should utilize CarPlay to inform your partner or your kids that you just’re on the best way, and your message will play out loud so that everybody can hear it.

Another person can then use HomePod to ship an Intercom message again to you, and you’ll choose it up in your automobile, on iPhone, or on Apple Watch. You possibly can select which machine(s) your messages are despatched to.

On private units, like iPhone and Apple Watch, Intercom messages are delivered very similar to voice recordings in iMessage. You’ll see a notification, and you’ll pay attention in when it’s handy.

What it’s essential to use Intercom

As we talked about earlier, there are a few caveats to Intercom. It not solely requires beta software program (for now), however it additionally requires “two or extra HomePod audio system,” based on Apple’s web site.

What’s extra, you probably have solely two HomePods, they should be setup to operate individually — not as one in stereo mode.

So, though Intercom will work throughout a bunch of Apple units, you may’t set it up until you’re fortunate sufficient to fulfill the minimal HomePod requirement.

Learn how to arrange and use Intercom

You’ll have to allow Intercom inside the House app in your iPhone or iPad by following these steps:

1. Faucet and maintain the HomePod tile, then faucet Settings.
2. Faucet Intercom.
3. Allow Intercom for every of the HomePod audio system you want to apply it to.

As soon as Intercom is enabled, you may ship messages to all enabled HomePods, or from one other Apple machine, by utilizing Siri instructions reminiscent of:

• “Hey Siri, intercom ‘It’s time to get up.’”
• “Hey Siri, ask everybody ‘We could order pizza tonight?’”

To ship Intercom messages to a selected HomePod or particular person, use instructions reminiscent of:

• “Hey Siri, intercom Tom ‘Do you need to see a film tonight?’”
• “Hey Siri, ask the kitchen ‘What’s for breakfast?’”

To answer to an Intercom message through HomePod or one other Apple machine, easy use the identical instructions, however begin with “Hey Siri, reply …” or “Hey Siri, reply to the bed room …” as a substitute.