Intercom system requirements: Which Apple devices support this feature?
Apple lets you turn your HomePod speaker into an intercom, allowing family members to send audio messages from one Apple speaker or device to another in your household. Family members receive Intercom notifications and can send Intercom messages from their devices.
About Intercom
Here’s Apple’s description of Intercom:
A new Intercom feature offers a quick and easy way for family members to connect with each other at home. One person can send an Intercom message from one HomePod to another — whether in a different room, a specific zone or multiple rooms throughout the home — and their voice will automatically play on the designated HomePod speaker.
The feature supports most, but not all Apple devices:. Follow along with us to learn about the Intercom system requirements in terms of device, software and locale support.
Intercom system requirements
Intercom requires a HomePod and also works on the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, HomePod and CarPlay with iOS 14.2, iPadOS 14.2 and watchOS 7.1.
Intercom: device support
Here’s the complete list of supported Apple devices for Intercom.
HomePod
These Apple wireless speakers with compatible software support Intercom:
- HomePod
- HomePod mini
Learn how to identify your HomePod model.
iPhone
The following iPhone smartphones powered by compatible software support Intercom:
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone SE
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone X
- iPhone 8
- iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 7 Plus
- iPhone 6s
- iPhone 6s Plus
- iPod touch (7th generation)
Learn how to identify your iPhone or iPod touch model.
iPad
These Apple tablets powered by compatible software support Intercom:
- iPad Pro
- iPad (5th generation and later)
- iPad mini (4th generation and later)
- iPad Air (2nd generation and later)
Learn how to identify your iPad model.
Apple Watch
These Apple Watch smartwatches powered by compatible software support Intercom:
- Apple Watch Series 3 and later
- Apple Watch SE
Learn how to identify your Apple Watch model.
CarPlay
CarPlay support for Intercom is coming in the future.
AirPods
You can also use Intercom hands-free while working out or running errands with your AirPods and AirPods Pro earbuds out of the box.
Learn how to identify your AirPods model.
Intercom: OS support
The following Apple operating system versions must be installed on your devices before you can take advantage of Intercom:
- iOS 14.2 or later on a compatible iPhone or iPod touch
- iPadOS 14.2 or later on a compatible iPad
- watchOS 7.1 or later on a compatible Apple Watch model
- HomePod software version 14.1 or later on a HomePod speaker
What about the Mac?
Apple makes no mention of Mac compatibility for Intercom. When you think of it, it shouldn’t be too hard to send a notification to any Mac on the user’s current home network with a play button. We don’t think the lack of Mac compatibility is due to some limitations with macOS.
Intercom from HomePod to Apple Watch and viceversa (iOS 14.2 b4, watchOS 7.1 b3, HomePod 14.2 beta) pic.twitter.com/JXBVqSUdZH
— domenico panacea (@domenicopanacea) October 21, 2020
Rather, we think that Intercom will be supported on the Mac when Apple releases the macOS 11.0 Big Sur update. We’ll be making sure to update this article to reflect any changes in terms of Intercom’s system requirements and compatibility.
Using Intercom
We will detail using Intercom in a standalone tutorial. In the meantime, you can use Intercom on your HomePod alone. This is useful if you’re at home and want to make announcements to other HomePod speakers throughout the house (“Hey Siri, intercom ‘Dinner is ready!’”). Or perhaps you’d like to send an audio message to a HomePod in a specific room or zone.
You will however need another Apple device in case you want to use Intercom remotely. For example, you’ll need an iPhone to Intercom a HomePod in your house when you’re in the backyard or on your way home.
Intercom’s support for CarPlay makes it a cinch to send and receive messages through Apple’s in-car dashboard while you’re driving. And with support for your AirPods and the Apple Watch, you can even use Intercom during a workout or when running errands?
Source link: https://www.idownloadblog.com/2020/11/03/intercom-system-requirements-which-apple-devices-support-this-feature/
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