Google Updates its Phone App with 'Verified Calls' Feature

Published by Ushna Arif Wednesday, September 9, 2020

Google just announced a new feature for its Phone app, called Verified Calls. The feature is meant to give users more details of a company when it is calling, such as the company's name, branding, and a small badge that shows that the company is verified. A reason will also be displayed as to why a company is calling. 

Users of all phones that are compatible with the Google Phone app, including Pixel and Android One phones will be able to set the app as their default phone calling app. 

The feature seems to be quite helpful depending on how businesses use it. It will also let users know when it is necessary to drop everything and pick up a business call, depending on the reason behind the call that the app shows. 

Google designed this new feature after it released its Verified SMS feature last year and observed an increase in the level of customer trust. The more businesses provide Google with information about their companies, the more the Verified Calls feature is likely to function better and be of more help to the users. 

Google also revealed on its support page how the feature works. Verified Calls work by having a business ping Google's server with its phone number, the user's phone number, and the reason for call. The Google app then compares the incoming call with the information that it receives from Google, and if both sets of data match, then the app shows the incoming call as verified. 

According to Google, the information it receives is deleted within minutes and it also ensures protection against misuse of the feature. 

The Verified Calls feature contributes to the improvement in caller ID systems by confirming that businesses are verified. The feature works regardless of users' carrier network. 

Google is rolling out Verified Calls in the US, Mexico, Brazil, Spain, and India for now and will make the feature available to more countries over time.