Google Phone App Introduces Call Screen Customization Feature
Google’s Phone app is launching a significant update that allows users to customize contact call screens, enhancing the user experience for incoming calls, reports 24brussels.
The new “Calling Cards” feature enables Android users to personalize their contact screens by changing images, colors, and text for incoming calls. This update parallels the Contact Poster feature available on iPhones since 2023, allowing Google Phone app users to replace standard contact photos with full-screen images and stylized names.
This customization is part of the broader overhaul of Android’s Material 3 Expressive design language. The feature began appearing in beta versions earlier this month and is now being rolled out publicly in version v188 of the Phone app. Google has stated that Calling Cards will be available globally but will be implemented in phases, potentially delaying availability for some users.
Upon activation, users will see a notification on the Home tab prompting them to customize how contacts appear when they call. The feature can also be accessed within the Contacts app. Users can create individual Calling Cards by selecting images from their device’s camera, gallery, or Google Photos and choosing a preferred font and color for the contact’s name.
In contrast to iOS’s Contact Posters, Google’s Calling Cards are specifically for individual devices; users cannot design a Calling Card that will be visible to other contacts when they call. As a result, each contact must be customized separately, although users have the freedom to personalize how these cards are displayed on their devices.
Additionally, the rollout includes a new “Take a message” feature, which transcribes voicemails when calls are missed. Users can record a custom greeting or select from preset options for callers leaving messages. Transcripts and voicemail audio can be accessed in the Phone app’s Recents tab, with assurance from Google that all messages are stored privately on the device. This feature is compatible with Pixel 4 smartphones and newer models, including Pixel Watch 2 when paired with recent Google phones.
