Amazon launches text message feature for shopping through Alexa

Amazon announced that select customers in the United States can now conduct online shopping using regular text messages, as reported by the company. The new service brings Amazon's Alexa shopping agent into SMS threads, letting users message product requests, manage cart items, and look up past orders directly inside their phone native messaging application.

Instead of navigating a crowded website, consumers can text a multi item to do list, send photos of recipes to build grocery lists, or request automatic purchases when items reach target prices. As Amazon vice president Rajiv Mehta explained in the announcement, the capability aims to help users shop at the exact moment they think of an item in their daily chats. The system relies on personal shopping history and stated preferences, such as specific dietary choices, to customize its responses.

The texting tool is initially available to a small group of invited users, with plans to expand across the nation in the coming weeks. However, it is still unclear how effectively an automated text interface can convey product nuances without traditional visual browsing, or how Amazon will protect users against unintended purchases triggered by simple messages.