Alert first responders when you need help, whether at home or on the go.
Overview
Emergency communication isn't always straightforward, that's why there's Howl's Voice Activated Alert, a paid subscription inside the free Howl app. This feature enables anyone to alert a dispatch agent, who will call the phone number on your account and ask if you need Police, Medical, or Fire assistance. This is the same trusted service as traditional home monitoring, re-imagined and at a fraction of the cost. This service can only be used with a subscription to Howl’s Voice Activated Alert feature in the Howl app, available to download for free from the App Store and Google Play Store. This feature is not available in the web app. Your device must be connected to Wi-Fi or cellular service to send an alert.
Accessing the alert
- First, go to your profile by tapping the avatar in the top right hand corner of the home screen.
- Tap on "Voice Activated Alert" from the list in your profile.
- Follow the steps to set up your alert, including subscribing, and ensuring personal information like phone number and home address (including apartment or unit number) are up to date.
Setting up your voice assistant to send an alert
Alerts can also be triggered hands-free via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Siri by installing the Howl Alert voice skill.
You can link a voice assistant to your account by tapping on the "Enable a voice assistant" button in the Voice Activated Alert screen in the mobile app.
After selecting the voice assistant you will be prompted by either Howl or native instructions to enable the voice assistant skill, action or the linking of the Howl account to the voice assistant.
Using a voice assistant to send an alert hands-free
After enabling a voice assistant and linking your Howl account, speak your voice assistant's activation phrase, then say: “...Alert Pack” to activate an alert. For example, "Ok Google, Alert Pack". When you send an alert, the dispatcher will call you twice. If you don't respond, and set off the alert through Alexa or Google Assistant, Police will be sent to the address associated with your Alexa or Google Assistant account. After sending an alert, to cancel it, speak your voice assistant's activation phrase, then say:“... Cancel” and speak your 4-digit Cancellation PIN. By default your Cancellation PIN is the last four digits of the mobile phone number you entered when signing up for Howl. This PIN can be customized after you subscribe to the Voice Activated Alert in the Howl app. Visit Profile>Settings>Safety>My Cancellation PIN.
Using the Howl app to send an alert manually
Alerts can also be triggered manually in the Howl App. In your Profile, tap on "Voice Activated Alert". Use the slider at the top of the screen to send an alert.
To cancel an active alert, tap the "Cancel alert" button in the Howl mobile app. Enter your 4-digit Cancellation PIN. By default your Cancellation PIN is the last four digits of the mobile phone number you entered when signing up for Howl. To customize your PIN, visit Profile>Settings>Safety>My Cancellation PIN.