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The Google Phone app can now tell you why a business is calling

The feature will be turned on by default on compatible phones.

What you need to know

  • Google's new Verified Calls feature will tell you why a business is calling.
  • The feature is aimed at helping users make an informed decision about incoming calls.
  • Unfortunately, however, the Verified Calls feature is only compatible with devices that have the Google Phone app.

Google is rolling out a new feature called Verified Calls, which works together with the Google Phone app not just to verify the identity of businesses but also display the reason why they are calling. As noted by the folks over at Android Police, the feature will help users know why a business is calling before picking up.

Before a participating business calls you, it is required to send its phone numbers, your phone number, and the reason for calling to Google's dedicated Verified Calls server. Google then sends all the information to the Google Phone app on your device. When the business calls you, your device will compare the incoming call information with the data Google received from the business. If the information matches, the Google Phone app will display it as a Verified Call.

However, your phone will not show any Verified Call information if the call is from a registered business that did not send any information to Google. You will also need to have your phone number added to your Google account for the feature to work.

Sadly, however, the Google Phone app isn't compatible with most Android phones. This means the Verified Calls feature will only be available on Google's Pixel and a small number of other compatible Android phones. Google says the feature will be turned on by default on compatible devices, although users can choose to turn it off.

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