Innovation is often fueled by inspiration, and this is certainly the case with Google. The technology giant, based in Mountain View, California, is in the process of developing a new feature called Calling Cards, which appears to be influenced by Apple’s Contact Posters. For context, Contact Posters was introduced in iOS 17 and allows users to set a specific image and name for their contact information. This personalized display is visible to anyone who has saved that contact.
Google’s forthcoming Calling Cards feature aims to provide a similar functionality in the Google Contacts app, enabling users to personalize their contact presence. Initial hints about Calling Cards emerged in late June when code snippets began appearing, revealing text prompts that might be featured in the user interface. Phrases such as “Picture and calling card” and “Set this image as both a contact picture and calling card” suggested a straightforward implementation, and the confirmation that these cards would be stored in the cloud and sync across devices indicated that Calling Cards would closely resemble Apple’s offering. Recent findings from Android Authority, examining Google Contacts’ version 4.60.30.783994635, have shed further light on the feature.
Users are expected to have a high degree of customization, with options potentially including emojis, different color hues, monograms, and various fonts. Notably, prompts such as “Try adding a calling card” will likely appear when the feature launches, encouraging users to engage with it. Moreover, options to dismiss Calling Card prompts for all contacts suggest users can choose whether or not to participate. There may also be a function allowing users to selectively display Calling Cards to certain contacts while keeping them private from others.
While the launch date for Calling Cards is still uncertain, the continuous updates to the code indicate that the development process is ongoing.
Leave a Reply