Latest news with #voicemail
Android Authority
24-07-2025
- Android Authority
We found Google's next Pixel-only calling feature and it's borrowed from Apple (APK teardown)
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR Google may be launching a new AI-powered 'Call Message' feature that acts like an on-device voicemail with live transcriptions and summaries. The feature works offline without using data or Wi-Fi and is likely powered by Gemini Nano. Like many AI features Google debuts with new Pixel phones, Call Message could be a Pixel 10 exclusive launching next month. Google already packs its Pixel phones with a bunch of smart calling features like Call Screening, Direct My Call, Hold for Me, and Call Notes. These features are powered by AI to make handling calls easier and less annoying. Now, it looks like Google is cooking up another new calling feature that could take things to the next level — an AI-powered voicemail system that works entirely on your device, no internet needed. Authority Insights story on Android Authority. Discover You're reading anstory on Android Authority. Discover Authority Insights for more exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage you won't find anywhere else. An APK teardown helps predict features that may arrive on a service in the future based on work-in-progress code. However, it is possible that such predicted features may not make it to a public release. While inspecting the latest beta version of the Phone by Google app (version 184.0.785204977-publicbeta-pixel2024), we found a feature called 'Call Message.' Based on strings hidden in the app, this feature lets your phone take messages for missed or declined calls. It can even filter out spam calls, transcribe, and summarize everything in real time, right on your device. If someone calls you and you don't answer, your phone will ask them to leave a message. That message gets transcribed using on-device AI (most likely Gemini Nano), and you can view the audio, summary, and transcript in the Recents tab. The entire process will happen locally on your device since the feature doesn't use Wi-Fi or mobile data. However, if your phone is off or out of the network, Call Message won't work, and your carrier's voicemail will take over like usual. Additional code strings we found show just when Call Message (codenamed Beesly) kicks in: Beesly will activate when a call is missed. It also triggers when you manually reject a call from either the answer screen or a notification. Even if you decline a call from your connected Wear OS watch, Beesly will still start recording a message on your phone. A notification will confirm that Beesly is taking a message. Could Call Message be a Pixel 10 exclusive? There's a strong chance Call Message could debut as a Pixel 10 exclusive when the new phones launch next month. The feature's codename, 'Beesly,' follows Google's typical pattern for Pixel-only features. Past AI tools like Hold for Me and Direct My Call also had unique internal codenames during development, and many stayed Pixel-exclusive. What's even more telling is the app version number where we discovered the feature. The 'pixel2024' tag clearly points to a build meant for Pixel devices launched in 2024. Google often uses these tags when internally testing Pixel-first features. Perhaps Google will release Call Message as a Pixel 10 exclusive at first, but also roll it out to other Pixel phones at some point. It's also entirely possible the feature will take longer to mature and release later as part of a future Pixel Drop. If Call Message sounds a bit familiar, that's because it's similar to Apple's Live Voicemail feature. Finally, since the feature appears to rely on Gemini Nano, which is only available on select devices, it makes sense for Google to showcase it as part of the Pixel 10's exclusive AI experience. If Call Message sounds a bit familiar, that's because it's similar to Apple's Live Voicemail feature, which lets users view a real-time transcription of the message someone is leaving as they speak. However, Google's version seems to go a step further by potentially offering summaries, not just transcripts. Apple's version also works on-device, which is something Google seems to be taking inspiration from. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
11-07-2025
- Android Authority
Samsung could take inspiration from iOS's Live Voicemail and Pixel Call Screen (APK teardown)
Apple TL;DR Samsung is working on an on-device voicemail feature similar to iOS's Live Voicemail. This feature would allow calls to be screened and corresponding voice messages to be stored directly on the device. Unlike Apple's version, Samsung's will let users customize ring time before redirecting a call, but lacks transcription functionality, at least for now. The feature was spotted within One UI 8 beta code and may initially be rolled out only in select regions. With iOS 17, Apple introduced the Live Voicemail feature, which provides real-time transcription of incoming voicemails as someone is leaving a message. However, to provide on-device transcription, Live Voicemail handles the voicemail functionality on-device too, removing the need for a carrier for voicemail storage and retrieval. The Live Voicemail feature was very well received, especially in regions where carrier-driven voicemail services were not popular or just too expensive. It seems Samsung is inspired by the success of the iOS' Live Voicemail feature, as the company is working on its own version of 'on-device voicemail' functionality. Authority Insights story on Android Authority. Discover You're reading anstory on Android Authority. Discover Authority Insights for more exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage you won't find anywhere else. An APK teardown helps predict features that may arrive on a service in the future based on work-in-progress code. However, it is possible that such predicted features may not make it to a public release. Voicemail functionality on phones Both iOS and Android support carrier-driven voicemail services, wherein the carrier handles voicemail storage and retrieval. When you are unable to answer a call, the carrier network redirects the call to a voicemail inbox, where the caller can leave a message. Carrier-driven voicemail can be either basic (accessed through dialling in) or take the form of Visual Voicemail, wherein you can see a list of voicemails on your phone. Even in Visual Voicemail, the carrier handles the voicemail storage and retrieval — the UI is merely for more convenience than the dial-in system. iPhones have Live Voicemail iOS 17's Live Voicemail feature flipped the script in favor of end users, enabling voicemail by default and for free across iPhones. This also marked the first time several users learned about voicemail as a feature. If you receive a call you don't want to attend, you can let it go to your voicemail without paying a dime to your carrier. I know many people in my circles who appreciate Live Voicemail, as it allows them to avoid spam calls and other sticky situations without rejecting a call or missing out on anything crucial coming their way. Google Pixels have Call Screen — similar to on-device voicemail, but not the same Google Pixel smartphones also have a variation of this functionality in the form of Call Screen through the Google Phone app, which is available in the US and other parts of the world but notably missing from several key markets. This limited availability (and Pixel's lower popularity compared to iPhones) hinders the widespread adoption of Call Screen, despite being introduced before Live Voicemail. It's also not a complete replacement for on-device voicemail functionality, but it does a similar job to a reasonable extent. On-device voicemail coming soon to One UI The latest One UI 8 internal beta build includes new code suggesting that Samsung Galaxy devices could soon also get an 'on-device voicemail' feature. Code Copy Text On-device voicemail When you're unable to answer, allow the caller to leave a voicemail message. You can still answer while the caller is recording their message. You can check and listen to voicemails in the Phone app. The strings are very clear on the upcoming functionality. Much like iOS' Live Voicemail functionality, you can set your phone to redirect incoming calls to an on-device voicemail. You can intercept the call while the caller is recording their message or check voicemails later. Unlike iOS, however, Samsung's version of on-device voicemail is likely to allow users to customize the ring time before the call goes to voicemail automatically, as we learn from these strings: Code Copy Text Enter number between 1 and 20. Ring time before voicemail seconds Unfortunately, One UI's upcoming on-device voicemail feature will likely be limited to only some countries. We could find a list of supported countries within one of the code files, explicitly listing the following: India Sri Lanka Nepal Bangladesh Curiously, just last month, we also spotted Google working to bring Call Screen to Pixel smartphones in India. So Samsung isn't alone in trying to bring on-device voicemail functionality to this region. Unlike iOS's Live Voicemail, transcription-related functionality is currently not attached to Samsung's on-device voicemail feature. However, this could change in the future, as One UI's On-device voicemail is still a work in progress. On-device voicemail is currently not live in One UI 8, even in the internal beta, nor has Samsung announced the feature. It's unclear if and when the feature will be released to the public. Since most of Samsung's major software releases are already done for the year, given that the Fold 7 and Flip 7 just launched with One UI 8, there's a chance that this feature could be destined to come with the following software release, potentially along with the Galaxy S26 release next year. We'll keep you updated when we learn more. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Daily Mail
29-06-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Chilling twist in case of missing TV anchor: Friend reveals their shock conversation just before she vanished
For Joseph Vigil, the nightmare began with a brief voicemail left by a friend: 'Hey, something's happened to Jodi.' At the time, Vigil was a TV reporter in Oklahoma. The call sent him into a tailspin, with a flood of questions racing through his mind.
The Verge
25-06-2025
- The Verge
iPhone users on Google Fi will now get all their voicemails in the Phone app
Google is making a big change to how Fi users on iPhone access their voicemails: instead of getting voicemails from a dedicated tab in the Fi app, iPhone users will be able to get them right from the native iOS Phone app instead. The change started rolling out on Tuesday and will be fully rolled out by July 2nd, the Fi team says in a support forum post. In August, Google plans to phase out voicemail in the iOS Google Fi app. 'If you have voicemails you want to keep, you must download them using Google Takeout before August 13th,' the team says in its post. 'After this date, they will no longer be available in the Google Fi app.' If you use Google Fi and have an iPhone, you may have seen some voicemails show up in the iOS Phone app before this announcement. But that has only happened under a specific set of circumstances. If a user had iOS's Live Voicemail feature turned on, your phone was turned on, and you were within Google Fi's service area when getting a voicemail, that voicemail would be delivered to the iPhone's Phone app, Google's Patrick Seybold tells The Verge. After this update has rolled out to you, all voicemails will show up in the iPhone's Phone app. Google teased in April that this change was in the works. At that time, Google also announced a more affordable Google Fi Unlimited Essentials plan that costs $35 per month.
Phone Arena
24-06-2025
- Phone Arena
This long-requested iPhone feature finally arrives for Google Fi users
Until now, iPhone users on Google Fi had to use the separate Fi app to check voicemails. This often led to confusion, since voicemail alerts could show up in both the Fi and iOS Phone apps. With this update, voicemail will only appear in the Phone app, where users can play, share, and delete messages just like they would with most other carriers. Additionally, Google Fi says it is phasing out voicemail support in the Fi app for iOS, thus users are being asked to download any voicemails they want to keep before August 13. After that date, those messages will no longer be available in the Fi app, and all voicemail functions will move over to the iPhone's default Phone app. Instructions for downloading messages are available through Google Takeout. Visual voicemail is a standard feature for most carriers on iPhone, so this update helps bring Google Fi closer to what other services already offer. It also reduces the need to juggle between multiple apps just to check voicemail. The update follows a few other recent improvements for Fi users. Google has already made it easier to set up Fi on iPhones, added support for international 5G in over 90 countries with select plans, and introduced data-only eSIMs for tablets. Earlier this year Google Fi rolled out the ability to connect a tablet with a data-only eSIM. | Image credit — Google For many iPhone users on Google Fi, this change will likely make managing voicemail more straightforward. Instead of switching between apps, all voicemail features will now be located in one place — the same app used to make and receive calls. Still, it's important to remember the August 13 deadline, as anyone with saved voicemails in the Fi app should take action before then to avoid losing them. This update may seem small, but it improves the overall experience for iPhone users on Google Fi. In my opinion, keeping voicemail in one place makes the process more convenient and better aligned with what users expect from a modern mobile service. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
