Google Phone now announces Caller ID

[Smokeaire01]

Google is rolling out Caller ID announcement. Won't need to look at the phone to know who is calling. Finally!!

https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/17/22440391/google-phone-app-android-caller-id-announce-rings

 

[Kizzy Catwoman]

Awesome!!

 

[Smokeaire01]

Interestingly my wife's Pixel 4a doesn't have this....yet.

 

[Morty2264]

Wow! That's a feature I'll have to try out! Thanks for letting us know!

 

[cbreze]

Interestingly my wife's Pixel 4a doesn't have this....yet.

I also have a 4a and saw the option for this feature earlier today. I’m running the 12 beta

 

[Smokeaire01]

I also have a 4a and saw the option for this feature earlier today. I’m running the 12 beta

My Pixel 4a got that feature before i installed A12 Beta. That's why I'm curious why my wife's Pixel 4a doesn't have it yet.

 

[vzwuser76]

My Pixel 4a got that feature before i installed A12 Beta. That's why I'm curious why my wife's Pixel 4a doesn't have it yet.

I've got a 4a as well and don't have this option. More than likely the slow rollout they usually do. If so, it should be here in the next 2-3 weeks.

Edit: Just checked the Phone by Google app on the Playstore and they don't list it in their latest update blurb, the most recent being call screening which has been out for awhile. So like I said, most likely a phased rollout.

 

[Smokeaire01]

I've got a 4a as well and don't have this option. More than likely the slow rollout they usually do. If so, it should be here in the next 2-3 weeks.

Edit: Just checked the Phone by Google app on the Playstore and they don't list it in their latest update blurb, the most recent being call screening which has been out for awhile. So like I said, most likely a phased rollout.

I sent a message to Google Support and received a reply stating that the rollout will take a couple of weeks.

 

[Kizzy Catwoman]

It works brilliantly. It announces my husband when he calls me. So I know it is him even without his ringtone.

 

[Smokeaire01]

My wife's Pixel 4a finally received this feature. After demonstrating it she had the same complaint I have, the ringtone isn't silenced when the announcement is made so it can be a just a bit difficult to make out. Overall she is thrilled she finally doesn't have to always look at her phone to decide whether to answer or not.

 

[livetovacation60]

Just got mine on my 3a XL

 

[cbreze]

I'm sure some will appreciate this feature, but I for one don't want my phone announcing my calls when I'm in a public space. If the call is from a number in your contacts it will announce the name as listed, correct? Or how about businesses not in your contacts that your caller ID identifies? That could lead to some potential embarrassing issues. I don't particularly want strangers knowing who's calling me while I'm standing in the checkout at the market or browsing thru the aisles or some other place. What if it's my parole officer! Or bail bondsman! Lol! Or Proctologist! Now ten people standing nearby know I just got a call from the Full service Sunshine Spa. Think I'll take a pass on this feature.

 

[swebb]

Same. I won't be using this mainly because my smartwatch will show who's calling without announcing it to the world. But it may be handy to others and it's nice to have options.

 

[Smokeaire01]

I'm sure some will appreciate this feature, but I for one don't want my phone announcing my calls when I'm in a public space. If the call is from a number in your contacts it will announce the name as listed, correct? Or how about businesses not in your contacts that your caller ID identifies? That could lead to some potential embarrassing issues. I don't particularly want strangers knowing who's calling me while I'm standing in the checkout at the market or browsing thru the aisles or some other place. What if it's my parole officer! Or bail bondsman! Lol! Or Proctologist! Now ten people standing nearby know I just got a call from the Full service Sunshine Spa. Think I'll take a pass on this feature.

You can set it to announce only when using a headset. Which is my main use. I don't have to be in the same room as my phone to know who's calling and if I want to answer the call or not.

 

[cbreze]

You can set it to announce only when using a headset. Which is my main use. I don't have to be in the same room as my phone to know who's calling and if I want to answer the call or not.

That sounds more practical. I don’t use a headset but those that do, a convenience for sure. A family member has an old fashion land line that announces calls. Really annoying, but they seem to like it.

 

[swebb]

You can set it to announce only when using a headset. Which is my main use. I don't have to be in the same room as my phone to know who's calling and if I want to answer the call or not.

This is certainly useful when driving. Some headsets already had this option so it's great that google made this available to all.

I believe that windows phones had this years ago. They were so far ahead of Android on anything bluetooth related at the time.

 

[Smokeaire01]

This is certainly useful when driving. Some headsets already had this option so it's great that google made this available to all.

I believe that windows phones had this years ago. They were so far ahead of Android on anything bluetooth related at the time.

The missing caller announcement was a big disappointment when I got my Pixel Buds Gen2 since my Plantronics Voyager and 5200 had this feature on every phone I've had including my Pixel 4a.
I had several chats with with Google tech support about this lacking feature and everyone said they would love to have it as well. I also sent many reports to Google about adding this over the past several months.
I've been working from home for over 4 years now, and I'm often not in the same room as my phone. I also hate actually holding my phone for phone calls, definitely prefer using my Bluetooth earpieces so I have both hands free. So I was thrilled when now I don't have to even be in the same room as the phone to know who is calling.

To each their own.