Calls: Amazon’s Fire TV Cube Can Make Zoom Calls

During the pandemic last year, several items were introduced to the world. Some of these items actually made communication and connection easier and better, one of which is the Amazon Fire TV Cube. The Amazon Fire TV Cube is the first hands-free streaming media player that delivers an all-in-one entertainment experience. With thousands of channels and apps to select from, Amazon Fire TV offers all your favorite subscriptions and streaming service. This device proved most useful when Amazon enabled it to work as an Alexa. Last year witnessed the first rollout support for videoconferencing between the Fire TV Cube and Alexa smart displays. Today the addition of Zoom opens up even more possibilities for hosting virtual chats or work calls on the biggest screen in your home. This really would’ve come in handy over the last year, but better late than never, I guess — and it should still prove convenient for anyone working a hybrid office/home schedule in the months ahead.

According to a blog post from manufacturers, the second-generation Fire TV Cube can use the Zoom app to call friends, family, or join a business call using the popular video conferencing solution. In other to use this device, you’ll also need a compatible webcam, a micro USB-to-USB adapter, and the latest Fire TV software update. The webcam must be connected to the Fire TV Cube using the micro USB-to-USB adapter. In other for it to work properly, the camera needs to support USB Video Class (UVC) at 720p at 30fps, but 1080p webcams are also supported and come highly recommended by Amazon. For the best experience using the device, Amazon suggests a 1080p camera with up to a 90-degree field of view and to position yourself 6-10 feet away from the TV.

Once you have all the cables are hooked up and the app installed, you can move unto linking Alexa to your calendar. Just after which you can then proceed with the voice command “Alexa, join my Zoom meeting” and the meeting options will be presented as they appear on your calendar. Alexa will then ask for the meeting ID and passcode, which you can input either with your voice or the remote. Saying “yes” to the one you want to join triggers an automatic dial into it. Sounds cool right?

Full details of Zoom calls on the Fire TV Cube can be found on Amazon’s blog. However, kindly note that this feature is only available for the second-generation Fire TV Cube. No way would you find it on the original model released in 2018.