Bold claim: Android’s latest feature is set to redefine how we judge outdoor importance of a call before answering. Android users will soon have the ability to tag certain calls as “urgent,” a designation that appears on the recipient’s incoming-call screen and is saved in their call history if the call isn’t answered. This is part of a beta rollout for Call Reason in Google’s Phone app, a feature that works only with contacts saved in the user’s device and only between users who also rely on Google’s default Android calling app.
If you frequently end up sending calls to voicemail (or if friends routinely miss your calls), this tool provides a way to signal that the call concerns something time-sensitive or requires immediate conversation, without sending a separate text message.
At present, Call Reason supports marking a call as “urgent.” However, there’s potential for more options in the future, such as custom messages or emojis to convey the context of the call. Because the Call Reason note appears in the call history as well, it could serve as a helpful reminder to follow up about a specific topic when the moment doesn’t permit answering.
Availability is currently limited to beta testers, and rollout may differ depending on the device manufacturer. To check for updates, open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, select “Manage apps & devices,” then choose “Check for updates.” To verify you’re using the Phone by Google app for calls, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps on your device.
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Author: Stevie Bonifield
