Amazon Echo can send hands-free texts for AT&T subscribers

With the need for a full cabinet of voice shopping officials and plans for a big splash in the holiday season, asking for your deals is sure to become a seasonal tradition.

Starting November 18, Amazon’s Echo and Echo Dot will be able to send text messages for AT&T customers. Same goes for the 48-pack of batteries (“Alexa, order AA batteries”) and the other items.

The promotion begins right now and runs through Monday November 21.

The standard Amazon Echo device is now available for $179, while a pint-sized version – the Echo Dot – can be had for $49.

Exclusive Alexa deals start today through Monday – customers who purchase an Alexa deal at $10 or more in value between now and Cyber Monday will also receive a bonus $5 Amazon gift card. It’s a testament to Amazon’s vision of Alexa as a legitimate shopping platform, and is also meant to incentivize Alexa users to at least try shopping through voice command.

Amazon has given the discount on many items, so choose your product now.

While the deals here aren’t necessarily door-busters, the best ones look to be the Samsung TV and Amazon Tap. To shop with Alexa, customers must be Prime members with “1-click” enabled. Not bad for a budget-priced television, but that’s just one deal. Just say, “yes” to buy it. Most of these deals will still be there a few minutes later so there’s no rush.

Are you planning to do pre black Friday shopping?

While this promotion is exclusive to the U.S., there’s little doubt that – like with the delayed release of Prime Now and the Echo itself – Amazon will expand this to the United Kingdom and beyond. However, the exclusive voice shopping opportunity for this weekend is the first of its kind, where Amazon allows both Prime users and the Alexa users to get discounts, which can not be received through the site or the mobile application of the company.