Google Phone Stories September 17
Google Phone is the latest app to get a Material You makeover ahead of Android 12’s release later this year.
Update: Within days of the Material You design rolling out, Google Phone has gained the dynamic colors to match, for some.
Google Phone Stories August 12
The call recording feature announced for the Google Phone app has had a slow rollout, but it is now coming to eligible Pixel devices across the globe.
Google Phone Stories August 9
Android 12 brings with it a big overhaul to notifications and Quick Settings. Many parts of the redesign launched with Android 12 Beta 1, but Google is now rolling out an “Ongoing call” chip for the Phone app.
Google Phone Stories July 29
The Phone by Google app — as it’s officially named — is a key part of the Pixel experience, and home to a handful of Assistant and other smart features. Google is now testing a settings redesign in the Phone app to make everything more manageable.
Google Phone Stories June 30
Besides unveiling Material You, Google at I/O 2021 last month detailed how “GS Text” is the company’s new font and beginning to appear in more first-party applications. Google Sans Text is now in use by the Phone app on Android.
Google Phone tests better search for previously-called numbers that aren’t in your contacts
The Google Phone app pre-installed on Pixels and other devices is getting an upgrade to its built-in search to be better about surfacing a number you’ve recently called but isn’t saved to your contact list.
Google Phone Stories June 22
Google Phone is making it easier than ever to message a business instead of calling them with a new “Chat” button.
Google Phone Stories May 17
To help you screen unwanted calls, the Google Phone app is rolling out the Caller ID Announcement feature that will announce the name and number of any incoming calls.
Google Phone Stories April 9
Google Phone app update lets you record calls from unknown numbers automatically
The ability to record callers in the Google Phone app is a popular addition, but the feature is expanding to include the ability to automatically record all calls from numbers not in your contacts.
Google Phone Stories January 8
The Google Phone app has been working on call recording for some time now with the feature live in several regions. Now, the app is preparing an enhancement to call recording that sees Google Phone automatically recording calls from unknown numbers that aren’t in your contacts.
Google Phone Stories November 20, 2020
In recent weeks, Google has brought its Android dialer to non-Pixel devices and tweaked the Play Store listing. It now appears that an upcoming rebrand will give the Phone app a new logo and name: “Google Call.”
Google Phone Stories September 30, 2020
One of the most impressive software features to debut with the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 is “Hold for Me.” The Google Assistant will stay on the line until an actual human being comes on for you to directly interact with.
Google Phone Stories September 17, 2020
Somewhat overshadowed by the launch of Android 11, Google at the start of this month brought its Phone app to non-Pixel devices and added a new “Verified Calls” capability. To coincide with this launch, the app is now called “Phone by Google” on the Play Store.
Google Phone Stories September 9, 2020
The Google Phone app might have just recently made the jump from Pixel phones, but it looks as though the dialer is adding some small but notable dark mode tweaks.
Google Phone Stories September 8, 2020
Last year, Google launched Verified SMS in Messages for Android to reduce spam. The Google Phone app is now picking up a “Verified Calls” capability as the dialer officially becomes available for many more non-Pixel devices.
Google Phone Stories August 11, 2020
After expanding to a few models seemingly at random earlier this year, the Google Phone dialer app is expanding to more Android smartphones. With its latest beta, it appears to work on just about any device.
Google Phone Stories July 18, 2020
We’re quickly approaching the debut of the OnePlus Nord and, ahead of that official launch, OnePlus continues to tease details about the device. Now, in a brief video on Instagram, OnePlus has confirmed some Google apps that will come pre-loaded on Nord, including Google Messages.
Google Phone Stories June 9, 2020
Google Phone app gains easy access Duo button in contacts view
The Google Phone app is quite effective at being something of a one-stop-shop for getting in touch with your contacts via voice, text, and video. The latest improvement to the Google Phone app beta adds a debatably handy Google Duo button onto the app’s main screens.
Google Phone Stories May 14, 2020
Earlier this year, we spotted that the Google Phone app, primarily developed for Pixel phones, was gaining the ability to record phone calls with a simple tap. Today, some folks in India are finding that their Nokia phones with Google’s dialer app have call recording enabled.
Google Phone Stories May 7, 2020
In recent years, Google’s messaging services have been split between consumer and enterprise. The latter has seen a slew of changes in recent weeks, including a rebrand and expanded availability. That barrier between the two types of apps is now blurring as Google today placed G Suite head Javier Soltero in charge of consumer messaging, and unified both teams.
Google Phone Stories April 24, 2020
Google Phone call recording function detailed, unsurprisingly region restricted
Call recording is something that, unfortunately, you don’t see all that often anymore. Google has been working on a call recording option for its Phone app for a while, and now, they’ve officially divulged the details on it.
Google Phone Stories April 11, 2020
Google’s dialer app for Pixels can now be installed on some other Android phones
Google has made several of its apps from Pixel smartphones available widely in the Play Store for other Android users, but its phone/dialer app hasn’t been one of them historically. Now, some Android phones have been able to download the dialer app from the Play Store.
Google Phone Stories January 30, 2020
The majority of Google apps today have been revamped with the company’s latest design language. There are some minor exceptions, with recent Google Phone and Messages betas introducing Material Theme icons throughout.
Google Phone Stories January 29, 2020
In the last release of the Google Phone app, our team uncovered that the app was gaining the ability to record phone calls. Tonight, Google Phone 44 has released with more preparations for that feature, including the ability to have your recorded call transcribed.
Google Phone Stories January 14, 2020
When having any particularly important conversation, whether a professional interview or meeting, or just a meaningful conversation with a loved one, it can be a good idea to record it for posterity. Google already has recording in-person conversations down through their recent Recorder app, but phone conversations are a bit more difficult.
A teardown of Google Phone 43 has revealed that the Pixel series’ default dialer app may be gaining the ability to record phone calls.
Google Phone Stories December 11, 2019
Strange bugs are all too common on Google’s Pixel devices and right now, an issue with the dialer app is popping up. Some Pixel owners are reporting an issue with the dialer app which won’t bring up the number pad while in phone calls.
Google Phone Stories November 19, 2019
One of the more annoying parts of owning a cell phone these days is the number of robocalls and outright spam that randomly rings your phone from unknown numbers. To help combat these robocalls, Google Phone 42 is prepping for the Google Assistant to be able to automatically screen incoming calls from unknown numbers.
Google Phone Stories August 1, 2019
Google is adding a new emergency calling feature to the first-party Phone app that lets you contact 911 without having to actually speak. This is highly useful when you’re unable to verbally communicate, and coming first to Pixel devices.
Google Phone Stories April 3, 2019
The latest version of the Google Phone app this week suggested that Call Screen was coming to Nokia and Motorola devices. The latter OEM confirmed this today, with the Assistant feature now rolling out to the Moto G7 and Motorola One.
Google Phone Stories February 11, 2019
Recent updates to Google Phone have focussed on expanding Call Screen in the U.S to older Pixel devices, and introduced a dark theme. Google Phone 29 — currently in beta — more widely rolls out the real-time text (RTT) feature that we’ve been tracking for the past several releases.
Google Phone Stories December 8, 2018
Google Phone 27 preps tweaked feedback as Favorites redesign, Call Screen on 2016 Pixel rolls out [APK Insight]
Following an update to Messages yesterday amid the past week’s discussion about the company’s communications future, Google Phone 27 is rolling out. The latest beta of the dialer coincides with the “Favorites” tab redesign rolling out, along with Call Screen for the original Pixel.
Google Phone Stories November 15, 2018
As promised in August, the Google Phone dark theme is now rolling out with the latest beta update. Google Phone 26 follows Google Contacts earlier this week and the company’s advice to developers that dark themes help conserve battery life.
Google Phone Stories October 25, 2018
At 10/9, the Google Phone added a Call Screen feature where Assistant can answer calls on your behalf and interact with the person on the other end. Google Phone 25 is now rolling out and details more about the in-progress dark theme.
Google Phone Stories September 27, 2018
Google Phone 24 preps dark mode, continues work on ‘Favorites’ redesign [APK Insight]
Last month, the Google Phone app received a Material Theme redesign in line with the company’s other communication apps. Version 24 today reveals work on a dark mode, while the company is continuing development on a redesign of the “Favorites” tab.
Google Phone Stories August 27, 2018
Google’s design language for the past several months has largely focused on white elements, and lots of users aren’t all that happy about it. Now, Google seems to be bringing an official dark mode to its dialer app.
Google Phone Stories August 10, 2018
Following Google Contacts gaining a Material Theme earlier this week, Google Phone is now the latest Android app to get a redesign. The new look adopts a stark white background throughout and the Google Sans font, but organization and placement remains totally unchanged.
Google Phone Stories July 9, 2018
Google Phone 22 preps real-time transcription feature to ‘screen unwanted calls’ [APK Insight]
The latest beta version of Google’s Phone dialer app is rolling out with another handy feature aimed at minimizing and filtering spam calls that is limited to Pixel, Nexus, and select other devices. A real-time and on-device transcription service will allow users to “screen unwanted calls.”
Google Phone Stories June 14, 2018
The latest beta version of the Google Phone is rolling out with more about the direct to voicemail spam filtering that was announced earlier this year. Meanwhile, there is more development on supporting Android P and Real-time text, as well as a possible upcoming redesign of the Favorites tab.
Google Phone Stories April 10, 2018
Google announced a beta for its Phone app this afternoon, with spam filtering as one of the first features. Today’s first beta also contains some other changes like the bottom bar redesign that we enabled several versions ago and tweaks to voicemail transcription.
The Google Phone app received a major update in February that added a convenient chat head for quick in-call controls. In the coming weeks, the default dialer for Pixel, Nexus, and Android One devices is adding spam filtering, with a new beta program to try the feature out now.
Google Phone Stories March 23, 2018
The last update to the Google Phone app in February added a convenient chat head option to quickly and easily access in-call controls. Version 18 is now rolling out with a tweak to the bottom bar redesign we’ve spotted, support for Android P, and a switch to the system sound and vibration settings.
Google Phone Stories February 16, 2018
While the marquee feature of Google Phone 17 is the addition of floating chat heads, this update also details some in-development functionality. Namely, a new bottom bar redesign and support for Real-time text.
Google Phone Stories February 14, 2018
Over the past several updates, the Google Phone app has added some new, but mostly minor features. Now, version 17 is introducing a new floating chat head that provides convenient access to controls during a call.
Google Phone Stories January 19, 2018
Following the last update adding a white navigation bar, duplicate contact management, and Assisted Dialing, the latest version of the Google Phone app is now rolling out. Among other smaller tweaks, version 16 reveals work on a redesigned Favorites tab.
Google Phone Stories December 12, 2017
Google’s phone app now lets you start a Duo video call from a regular voice call
Google’s Duo video service is definitely underrated, but the company is pushing it in several ways to get more users interested. Now, users with Google’s own dialer application can start Duo calls with just a tap.
Google Phone Stories December 11, 2017
In our teardown of the Google Phone app last month, we spotted several in-development features. With version 15 now rolling out, functionality like “Clean up” and “Assisted Dialing” are now live, along with a light navigation bar on Pixel devices.
Google Phone Stories November 13, 2017
The latest version of Google’s Phone dialer for Pixel, Nexus, and Android One devices is rolling out today with some exciting features in the works. None of these changes appear to be live yet, but most notable is a voicemail transcription service powered by Google.
Google Phone Stories September 21, 2017
Google Phone app may soon get speakerphone toggle in notification drawer
Thanks to a recent sighting in the AOSP commit, Google might be in the process of adding new notification actions to its Google Phone app.
