UPDATE (8/29): After testing iOS-inspired “Calling Cards” for its Phone app earlier this month, Google has released the feature to all users this week.
Like iPhone’s Contact Posters, Calling Cards lets you set full-screen photos for incoming and outgoing calls. To try it out, download v188 or later of the Phone app. If you don’t spot the feature immediately, don’t worry. “We’re rolling out Calling Cards in phases to ensure the best experience,” Google said in a support page on Thursday.
Once available, you should see a promo for the feature at the top of the Phone app’s home page. Apart from adding full-screen photographs to Calling Cards, you can also stylize the font, change its colors, and modify the background of the image. All of these customizations are possible from both the Phone and Contacts apps.
Google and Apple have treated the feature differently. As The Verge notes, unlike on iOS, Android users can’t decide how their Calling Card appears on someone else’s phone. That also means if you want to see a Calling Card when making or receiving a call, you’ll need to add the image yourself.
Original Story (8/15):
Google is bringing iOS-like full-screen “Calling Cards” to its Phone and Contacts apps. The update was first spotted in July and is now rolling out to some beta testers.
To get started, you need to download the latest version of the Google Contacts app (version 4.61.28.792249534) or the latest beta for the Google Phone app (version 188.0.793710089-publicbeta-pixel2024). Then, head to the contact page you want to modify. You’ll see the new Calling Card option next to the existing circular contact picture. Add an image, modify the color and font of the text, and confirm your choices.
There’s one major difference in how Apple and Google have treated the feature, though. According to Android Authority, while iOS displays Contact Posters set by others, Google will show a Calling Card only if you’ve assigned one to the contact yourself. So, to make the most of this feature, you’ll have to manually add photos for contacts you regularly interact with.
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You’ll be prompted to add Calling Cards on both apps. In the Phone app, the prompt will appear on the homepage above the call log. In the Contacts app, it will appear while you view an individual’s saved contact profile.
Google, on the other hand, is gearing up for the launch of Pixel 10. It already provided a first look at the phone earlier this month, complete with an ad that takes a shot at Apple’s Siri struggles. The event is scheduled for 1 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Aug. 20. PCMag will be there, but you can also stream it live on YouTube.
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About Jibin Joseph
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