UPDATED 01:28 EDT / DECEMBER 16 2016

APPS

AOL’s Alto email app now integrates with Slack and Alexa: How to get started

AOL Inc. announced Thursday that its Alto email app for the web, Android and iOS is now integrated with Slack and Amazon Echo.

The Alto email app attempts to simply inbox management by showing you the most important emails first. Emails are categorized based on popular criteria, such as messages from contacts, emails with file or photo attachments and snoozed emails, while Alto’s cards place critical information such as flight reservations and restaurant bookings up front.

With the new Slack integration, you will be able to access all your Alto emails directly from the messaging platform. Integration with Amazon Echo will allow Alexa to provide you details on flights and restaurant bookings and will be able to read important emails to you.

Alto and Slack integration

Add Alto to Slack

To add Alto to Slack you will need to have the necessary permission levels to add apps to your Slack Team.

  • Go to connect.altomail.com and click the “Add to Slack” button or go to the Slack App directory.
  • Grant Alto access to your Slack team. If you have multiple Slack teams, select the relevant one to install the Alto app for.
  • Login to your Alto account or any email address you want to connect to Slack.

Tip: If you have sync enabled on Alto you should sign into your main Alto account to get access to all the email accounts you have already linked to the Alto app.

If Alto is already installed on your Slack Team, simply type /alto link to link your account.

Access Alto in Slack

You can use Slack slash commands to access Alto. In any Slack channel, type /alto, followed by a specific Alto command.

Tip: Type /alto help for a full list of available commands and features.

Access you Alto File and Photo Stack directly from Slack

With the Alto Slack app installed you can access any photos or files in your Alto Stacks. You can specify files or photos from a specific date range or that were sent to, or received from, a certain person.

Use the below slash commands to access your files and photos:

  • /alto files: Gives you access to all files from your Alto File Stack.
  • /alto photos: Gives you access to all photos from your Alto Photo Stack.
  • /alto [files/photos] from [Joe] from [last week]: Gives you access to files or photos from a specific person sent during a particular date range.
  • /alto show me [pdf] files from [Jane] from [yesterday]: In addition to be specific with the sender and the date range, you can also search only for specific file types.
  • /alto show me pictures from [Phil] from [October, 2014]: Gives you access to photos sent to you on a specific date from a specific person.

Note: At this stage, you are unable to access your cards on your Alto Dashboard, but the Alto team is working on this integration as well as the ability to get notified about flights, packages and more.

Alto on Amazon Echo

Alto in Amazon Echo is currently in an internal alpha phase and will be available soon. You can sign up for updates at connect.altomail.com.

When the integration is available you will be able to ask Alexa things like “When is my next flight?”  and Alexa, powered by the information in Alto, will be able to give you details about the date and time of the flight as well as the airline and gate where you will be boarding.

Another command example is “Read me the most important emails in my Dashboard” and Alexa will be able to read your most important emails to you.

Check out Alto’s introduction video below, showcasing its new Slack and Alexa features.

Source: Alto

Image via Alto

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