Google Will Soon Tell Users Why A Business Is Calling With New 'Verified Calls' Feature

Google is bringing an update to its Phone app that will help its users avoid pestering spam calls. A new Verified Calls feature has been added to the app that will now display the reason why a business is calling you.

In a recent blog highlighting the update, Google says that the feature is meant to help users make “informed decisions about incoming calls.” The Verified Calls feature will help notify Google Phone users of a business’ name, logo, and the reason why it calls, as and when it does.

The feature works based on information pre-registered by the businesses with Google. Businesses send a set of information to Google before they make the call, including their phone number, the number they are calling and the reason they are calling.

An example of a call reason can be like “Scheduling your internet installation” or “Your food delivery,” as mentioned in the post.

Google then pushes this information to the device containing the Google Phone app. Once a business calls the app users, the device compares the incoming call information with the information Google received from the business. A Verified Call badge is displayed if both of these match.

Limitations

(Representative Image: Reuters)

Though the feature sounds extremely handy for avoiding marketing calls, it has some limitations to its use.?

First and foremost, the Verified Calls feature will require businesses proactively providing the sought information to Google. It is only if businesses do so, will they be provided with a Verified Call badge.

That means not all calls without the badge will be spam.

The feature is also limited to Google Phone app users and not available on all Android devices. Another prerequisite is that it will require the users to have their phone number linked to their Google account.

Although Google ensures that it will delete the phone number of the user and the call reason from the Verified Calls server “within minutes of verification.” This removes the suspicion that the company will be holding a record of one’s phone calls and the reason behind them.

Google says that the Verified Calls feature is on by default on its Phone app. Users do, however, get an option to opt-out of the feature.