FWIW;.

Perhaps look around at the ifttt.com website. There you can find lots of applets to add features to google home and other smart speakers. ifttt can seem intimidating if you're not a little bit geeky.

It is not for me. The user is going to be a a low vision user. And smartphones are a bad choice for some low vision users. Think: breakage. So the speaker makes more sense.

So again, the specs are a reliable smart speaker that has support for calling, texting and messaging features. All of those features, not just some.

PS - personally, I was thinking of using such a speaker myself too in lieu of buying a smartphone.

How does a smart speaker call and text without a smart phone being involved? Assume you still need a cell carrier. I know 2 people with low vision that can't drive anymore. Both use the newer big screen Apple phones and have large icons and use all the voice capabilities and seem to get along fine. Mary

1. Hmmm...this makes me wonder if one of those devices could be used by a good friend who recently had a stroke. She has an iphone but needs someone to hold it for her to use. She's in a rehab facility.

I have a little folding stand on my night table for my phone or tablet. Maybe that would work for the person. Got it for less than $10 at the store in the cell accessory department and it folds up for travel in my tablet case. Mary

"How does
a smart speaker call and text without a smart phone being involved?
Assume you still need a cell carrier. I know 2 people with low vision
that can't drive anymore. Both use the newer big screen Apple phones
and have large icons and use all the voice capabilities and seem to get
along fine. Mary"

Hmm, I assumed originally that it could do something like a connect to a PC and make a Skype Call but yes, it may try to connect to a smart phone instead.

I would be curious to know. My Google home mini works off my android phone where all my contacts are stored. Never tried to see if it would work off a PC. I wouldn't rely on it toyally with the PC because if the power goes out or the internet goes out then Wi-Fi calling is useless. Mary