Alexa Cast lets you skip the Bluetooth when streaming to your Amazon Echo

Apple has AirPlay so Google has Cast, so it was probably only a matter of time before Amazon made its own media-streaming technology.

Amazon just debuted Alexa Cast: a new way for customers to enjoy their favorite tunes on Alexa devices. However, compatibility is very limited as it only works with Amazon Music.

This ability has been missing for quite some time. The main way to stream music directly from another device to an Echo is to use Bluetooth, and that will still work. Alexa Cast is a welcome new option, though, and the feature is available now on the iOS and Android Amazon Music apps. Just be sure to update the app to the latest version.

Turning on Alexa Cast is not very different from using Google Cast: Simply hit the Alexa Cast icon and choose the Echo device where you want your music to play. The app will stay in sync with the music as it's playing through the Echo, allowing you to stop playback or control the volume quickly.

This casting technology is compatible with all Alexa-enabled devices, meaning it works with Echo's and third-party products like the Sonos One or C by GE Sol lamp.

For now, Alexa Cast only works with Amazon Music. However, if Amazon were to release an API, other services like Spotify would be able to take advantage of the feature, but there's so far no indication that will happen. Certainly don’t expect it to arrive for YouTube anytime soon, as Google and Amazon are constantly fighting.