How are phone calls and texts handled?

[Scoiatael]

Couldn't find any videos showing examples of this. Does Alexa handle it all? Do texts appear on your screen and get read out loud?

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[timesinks]

Calls work via bluetooth like they have in most cars for the past 10 years or so.

There is zero capability for text messaging.

 

[Scoiatael]

Calls work via bluetooth like they have in most cars for the past 10 years or so.

There is zero capability for text messaging.

That is disappointing.

 

[SoCal Rob]

Calls work via bluetooth like they have in most cars for the past 10 years or so.

There is zero capability for text messaging.

How does the Rivian handle BT audio if you use Hey Siri or Okay Google (I think) to interact with your phone?

I can get texts read to me on our 2006 car with “Hey Siri, read my last text.” Since my car’s BT seems to consider this a phone call, it even mutes other audio sources for the duration of the voice control session. If I’m using phone audio the phone is smart enough to pause and then resume.

If Rivian doesn’t permit that then I’d be seriously disappointed.

 

[cmtaylor963]

How does the Rivian handle BT audio if you use Hey Siri or Okay Google (I think) to interact with your phone?

I can get texts read to me on our 2006 car with “Hey Siri, read my last text.” Since my car’s BT seems to consider this a phone call, it even mutes other audio sources for the duration of the voice control session. If I’m using phone audio the phone is smart enough to pause and then resume.

If Rivian doesn’t permit that then I’d be seriously disappointed.

Hey Siri works over BT, but you can't activate Siri with the steering wheel buttons. So, you can't keep your phone in your pocket.

 

[SoCal Rob]

Hey Siri works over BT, but you can't activate Siri with the steering wheel buttons. So, you can't keep your phone in your pocket.

Saying, “Hey Siri,” is how you activate Siri hands free. It’s the Apple equivalent of saying Alexa. I use Hey Siri with my phone in a pocket or cup holder for a completely hands-free voice control session.

Just in case this helps: Apple instructions if Hey Siri isn’t working for you

 

[cmtaylor963]

Saying, “Hey Siri,” is how you activate Siri hands free. It’s the Apple equivalent of saying Alexa. I use Hey Siri with my phone in a pocket or cup holder for a completely hands-free voice control session.

Just in case this helps: Apple instructions if Hey Siri isn’t working for you

Yeah Hey Siri works, but not when my phone's in my pocket. (Unless I pause the music then yell)

 

[crashmtb]

Yeah Hey Siri works, but not when my phone's in my pocket. (Unless I pause the music then yell)

so it’s just doing it from the phone itself, then the audio is over Bluetooth ?

every car I’ve had since…I’ve had ones with Bluetooth has had a button for voice control or similar, which ends up being able to initiate Siri. All rivian has to do then is make one of the steering wheel buttons do the same.

or maybe one has to yell at Alexa to wake Siri up ???

 

[cmtaylor963]

so it’s just doing it from the phone itself, then the audio is over Bluetooth ?

every car I’ve had since…I’ve had ones with Bluetooth has had a button for voice control or similar, which ends up being able to initiate Siri. All rivian has to do then is make one of the steering wheel buttons do the same.

or maybe one has to yell at Alexa to wake Siri up ???

You can use 'Alexa' wake word to activate Alexa, but she can't send texts, at least on iPhones. The left scroll button also activates Alexa, but I wish it could be set to activate Siri.

 

[timesinks]

Yeah, Hey Siri will work, but your phone has to hear you say it. The infotainment treats it like a call. It works - ish. But it's a little awkward. It will work for some texting but there is no on screen support.

 

[SoCal Rob]

Yeah, Hey Siri will work, but your phone has to hear you say it. The infotainment treats it like a call. It works - ish. But it's a little awkward. It will work for some texting but there is no on screen support.

Yeah, I’m used to using Hey Siri hands free and eyes free, which is limiting but better than nothing. It’s a huge improvement in a car from. 2006 but underwhelming in a 2022. Maybe a future update will improve things.

 

[SoCal Rob]

Yeah Hey Siri works, but not when my phone's in my pocket. (Unless I pause the music then yell)

Actually, I bet which pocket and how the phone is placed comes into play. I keep mine in a shirt pocket upside down. I started the upside down thing because it seemed like an earlier version of the hardware or OS wouldn’t wake when upside down unless you pressed a physical button. I think that went away at some point but I still keep it upside down out of habit. If voice activation is relying on a microphone at the bottom of the phone that could be why it’s working acceptably for me. Maybe worth a try? It’ll still have limitations without anything on the car’s display.

 

[Gabe1aron]

Sadly the Alexa commands are useless. My wife’s Subaru handles voice commands reliably where as the Rivian, which is a computer in wheels, cannot. Rivian needs to fix this or switch over to Google or Apple.

 

[catman]

Hey Siri works over BT, but you can't activate Siri with the steering wheel buttons. So, you can't keep your phone in your pocket.

Absolutely one can, on most modern cars. The talk button integrated into both my cars allow this.

 

[cmtaylor963]

Absolutely one can, on most modern cars. The talk button integrated into both my cars allow this.

Exactly, so why not on a Rivian?

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