Smart Speakers in Russia Now Double as Family Landlines

A new feature allows Russians to use their smart speakers as home phones—with no SIM card required and shared access for the whole household.

In Russia, smart speakers are evolving beyond voice assistants and music hubs. A new function now enables users to turn these devices into fully functional home phones.

No physical SIM card is needed. Instead, users activate a virtual phone number online, using an app called 'Home with Alice'—named after the voice assistant powering the service. Any mobile carrier works with the system, making it widely accessible.

According to Russian telecom provider MTS, this usage model is quickly gaining traction. Since the service launched, users have spent over 4 million minutes making calls through their smart speakers.

The feature is part of a broader effort to modernize basic communication tools in Russia, turning everyday gadgets into multi-functional platforms and making digital infrastructure more convenient for families.