We’re excited to announce that the Alexa Voice Service (AVS) API now comes with support for the new Notifications functionality.

The Notifications feature allows Alexa to proactively indicate that there is new content from core features, such as Shopping updates, and Alexa skills for the user to retrieve. Specifically, this feature exposes new directives that instruct the device-side client to display visual indicators (an LED) and play audio when a notification is available. Starting today, end users will be able to enable notifications on select skills such as The Washington Post, AccuWeather, and Life360, with more coming soon.

Notifications is a required feature for all AVS devices, ensuring that consumers have a consistent and reliable Alexa experience. Device makers can now update their products to support the new feature.

Learn more about the feature on the Notifications for AVS page »

Get Started with Notifications for AVS

The Notifications interface requires you to support a new directive to control device-side indicators like an LED or earcon. When a user opts-in to receive notification, the directive triggers a sound and animates the indicator. Notifications are delivered simultaneously to all Alexa-enabled devices owned by the user that are not currently in Do Not Disturb mode. When the user has listened to all of their notifications, a directive will trigger the indicator to turn off. Additionally, devices will need to support a new sync event allowing the indicator to update based on the content in the user’s queue, even as devices transition from offline to online.

The Notifications speechlet will send all notification-related directives to a user’s device if they have enabled notifications on specific skills or from Amazon shopping. Customers with devices that do not support the Notifications indicator will have to refer to their Amazon Alexa App for missed content. Refer to the resources below to learn how to update your product to provide the best possible customer experience.

Get started with these technical resources:

• Notifications for AVS API Overview »
• UX Guidelines: Notifications »
• AVS Device SDK »
• AVS Sample Skill »

Notifications for ASK

Soon developers will be able to add notifications to their skills to deliver important and relevant information to users. Today, we are working with a handful of companies as part of the private beta for this feature. AccuWeather will provide weather updates, and The Washington Post will provide users breaking news alerts. Notifications for ASK will be available to all skill builders soon in a public beta. Sign up to be notified when the public beta for notifications begins.

Learn more about AVS

AVS enables developers to integrate Alexa directly into their products, bringing the convenience of voice control to any connected device. AVS provides developers with access to a suite of resources to quickly and easily build Alexa-enabled products, including APIs, hardware development kits, software development kits, and documentation. Through AVS, device makers can add a new intelligent interface to their products and offer customers access to a growing number of Alexa features, smart home integrations, and skills. Just ask, and Alexa will respond. Visit the AVS Developer Portal to get started.

Have questions? We’re here to help. Visit us on the AVS Forum or Alexa GitHub to speak with one of our experts.