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

Apple’s new Intercom feature, showcased during its recent keynote alongside the unveiling of HomePod mini, is also on its way to iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and more in future software updates.

Get ready for its arrival by learning all you need to know about Intercom right here.

Intercom lets you send short audio messages to almost anyone with an Apple device. It’s a little like the Walkie-Talkie feature you’ll find in watchOS, except it doesn’t require an Apple Watch.

The feature works on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, HomePod and HomePod mini — and even AirPods and CarPlay. But there are a couple of important caveats you need to be aware of before diving in.

One of those is that Intercom requires iOS 14.2, watchOS 7.1, and HomePod 14.1, which are only available in beta for now. But if you want to be ready for Intercom’s public release, here’s all you need to know.

What is Intercom?

The big difference between Intercom and Walkie-Talkie, other than the fact that Walkie-Talkie is exclusive to Apple Watch, is that Intercom can be used to broadcast messages via HomePod and HomePod mini.

When you’re driving home from work, for instance, you can use CarPlay to tell your spouse or your children that you’re on the way, and your message will play out loud so that everyone can hear it.

Intercom lets you broadcast voice messages to HomePod and more.
Image: Apple

Someone else can then use HomePod to send an Intercom message back to you, and you can pick it up in your car, on iPhone, or on Apple Watch. You can choose which device(s) your messages are sent to.

On personal devices, like iPhone and Apple Watch, Intercom messages are delivered much like voice recordings in iMessage. You’ll see a notification, and you can listen in when it’s convenient.

What you need to use Intercom

As we mentioned earlier, there are a couple of caveats to Intercom. It not only requires beta software (for now), but it also requires “two or more HomePod speakers,” according to Apple’s website.

What’s more, if you have only two HomePods, they must be setup to function separately — not as one in stereo mode.

So, although Intercom will work across a bunch of Apple devices, you can’t set it up unless you’re lucky enough to meet the minimum HomePod requirement.

How to set up and use Intercom

You’ll need to enable Intercom within the Home app on your iPhone or iPad by following these steps:

1. Tap and hold the HomePod tile, then tap Settings.
2. Tap Intercom.
3. Enable Intercom for each of the HomePod speakers you wish to use it on.

Enable Intercom inside the Home app.
Image: Apple

Once Intercom is enabled, you can send messages to all enabled HomePods, or from another Apple device, by using Siri commands such as:

• “Hey Siri, intercom ‘It’s time to wake up.’”
• “Hey Siri, ask everyone ‘Shall we order pizza tonight?’”

To send Intercom messages to a specific HomePod or person, use commands such as:

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

To reply to an Intercom message via HomePod or another Apple device, simple use the same commands, but start with “Hey Siri, reply …” or “Hey Siri, reply to the bedroom …” instead.

Source

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