Bold reality check: Android is about to make calls feel a little less mysterious by signaling urgency right on the receiver’s screen. Here’s what you need to know.
Android users will soon gain an option to tag calls as “urgent.” This flag appears on the recipient’s incoming-call screen and in their call history if the call isn’t answered. The feature, called Call Reason, is in beta within Google’s Phone app. It only works for contacts saved in your list, and only if both parties are using Google’s default calling app on Android devices.
This means you can tell someone, without sending a separate text, that a call is about something important or requires immediate attention. It’s especially handy if you frequently end up leaving voicemails or if friends don’t answer right away.
Currently, Call Reason supports marking calls as “urgent.” Looking ahead, adding more options—such as custom messages or emoji indicators to convey the reason for the call—could be helpful. Since the Call Reason note also appears in the call history, it might serve as a useful reminder to follow up about a specific matter if the call can’t be picked up at the moment.
Rollout is in beta, with availability varying by device maker. To check for updates, open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon, go to “Manage apps & devices,” and select “Check for updates.” You can also verify you’re using the Phone by Google app for calls by navigating to Settings > Apps > Default apps.
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— Stevie Bonifield
