Your Pixel phone can now screen calls to ask if they’re urgent – here’s how it works

Figure out what your friend wants but in a nicer way

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During thePixel 8 event in early October,Googlerevealed that theCall Screen featureon their flagship series will have new “contextual replies” for incoming calls. It turns out this update is more capable than we thought, as users can also ask contacts if their call is urgent.

This option was discovered by9To5Googleand can be considered the more friendlier way of screening people. The other method, as the publication points out, hasGoogle Assistantask the other person “who they are and what they want,” which can come across as rather standoffish to friends and family. When you receive a phone call, a new button will appear underneath a contact’s profile where you activate the screening process.

Call Screen on Pixel is rolling out contextual replies that let you quickly respond to phone calls with a specific question, without having to actually answer the phone.eg. here, a tipster got a call from their mom, and the dialer screen showed a “ask if urgent” chip that would… pic.twitter.com/dZwT0gLnpDOctober 23, 2023

From there, Google Assistant will then ask if it’s urgent. Your family member can respond with a yes or a no. Assistant transcribes what they said on your Pixel phone screen while offering “tappable options to ask for more information.” After that, the two of you can go back and forth until someone hangs up or you answer. For non-contacts, it’ll take you through the normal screening process.

Industry insiderMishaal Rahman on X(formerly known as Twitter) stated the feature is rolling out to multiple Pixel models like thePixel Fold. 9To5Google says it popped up on aPixel 7 Pro. We’re not too sure how many devices will be updated, so we reached out to Google asking if they would give us a list of Pixel phones that’ll receive the patch and in what countries. We’ll let you know if we get a response.

SOS changes

The urgent call screening will be exclusive to Pixel. However, the tech giant is working on something that will affect all Android devices. Google is adding a “small barrier” to its Emergency SOS tool requiring users to press and hold their finger on the screen before being allowed to make a 911 call. This will be made the default setting, replacing the “five-second waiting” period currently in place.

According to 9To5Google, law enforcement agencies have asked Google to implement these changes in an effort to stop pocket dialing. It’s true people have been complaining about this.In the UK, Emergency SOS was blamed for a sudden increase in false alarm calls to local police. You’ll even findforum posts of usersannoyed by how often the pocket dialing happens, asking for ways to stop it.

Of course, Android owners will have the option to go back to the older setting if they prefer it. Holding an on-screen button won’t be helpful in a dire situation. Plus, you can still use the Phone app to contact emergency services. This is for Emergency SOS only. It’s unknown when this particular update will launch. Be sure to keep an eye out for the patch when it arrives.

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While we have you check out TechRadar’s list of thebest Pixel phones for 2023if you’re thinking of picking one up.

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Cesar Cadenas has been writing about the tech industry for several years now specializing in consumer electronics, entertainment devices, Windows, and the gaming industry. But he’s also passionate about smartphones, GPUs, and cybersecurity.

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