Digital Assistants Acting as Phones

I note that in the IFTTT applets there are now ways to have the Amazon Echo dial phone numbers.  See for example this applet, that causes the Echo to dial specific phone number and recite a message.  Previously a skill was announced to send text messages.    This points to more mechanisms for Echo to act as a voice directed phone or intercom.  A powerful extension of the assistant idea.    Other rumors are out that Telephony is a likely future feature for Echo and Google Home.  One barrier may be regulatory issues in the telephony space.