What you need to know
- Google is said to be working on a feature to facilitate quicker video calls initiation in the Contacts app.
- A tipster uncovered the ability for users to set a third-party app as their default, enabling them to start a video call with just a tap on their preferred app.
- Recently, Google revamped its contact creation page, making it easier to input essential information without unnecessary clutter.
Google is reportedly enhancing its Contacts app with additional support for video calls.
According to AssembleDebug (Android Authority), a deep dive into Google Contacts revealed that the company is working on making the process of initiating video calls faster. The tipster discovered that the Contacts app is currently testing a new long-press option that allows users to set a third-party app as their default video calling method.
An APK teardown showed that after opening a contact’s profile page, users can long-press the video call icon, which will bring up a new sub-menu. This menu displays all available options for making a video call, with the default option being “carrier video calling,” along with other apps like Google Meet. If the user has connected with the contact using a third-party app, it will also appear in this menu.
The tipster noted that the new “video call” menu allows users to set an app as their default for video calls. Using WhatsApp as an example, the tipster explained that if WhatsApp is set as the default app, the contact’s video call button will display a mini WhatsApp logo.
This change is expected to streamline the process, allowing users to quickly initiate video calls through their preferred app with a single tap. This method is faster than the current process, which requires users to navigate to the “Connected Apps” tab on the contact’s profile page.
If multiple phone numbers are saved for a contact, long-pressing the video call icon will display each phone number along with the available apps to make the call.
This redesigned video calling method in Google Contacts was discovered in version 4.46.53.70, but there is no confirmed release date for its availability in the stable build.
This update is expected to simplify the use of third-party apps for video calls, such as WhatsApp and Telegram, which are popular choices among Android users. Setting a default app will make it easier for users who prefer these apps over Google Meet, the primary alternative.
Additionally, this refined video calling feature complements the recent redesign of the Contact app’s contact creation page. The new layout offers a cleaner and more user-friendly approach, highlighting key details more prominently and making the process more efficient compared to the previous design.
While users still have the option to access additional details by tapping on the “Add fields” button, these details are now placed further down the page, out of the way.