It looks like Google Pixel phones are getting a new smart feature called ‘lookup’ that can help you identify unknown callers.
Tipster Assembly debug Spotted the feature in beta version 127.0.620688474 of the Google Phone app and explained how it logs an unknown number to the app’s ‘Recents’ tab, which, when selected, prompts users to select an appropriate app like Google Search to search the number on the internet.
This should then return results for a search for an unknown number and help users discover who called. For now, the lookup function seems to work best for finding companies that have listed data online, rather than private individuals and scammers.
This currently limits the use of the feature, but hopefully we’ll see the integration of features such as automatic filtering and blocking of unreliable calls in the final version, such as those seen in apps like Truecaller, which prevent potential fraudsters.
The lookup feature went live in Japan as part of the March Feature Drop and could be rolled out globally in the next release, expected around May/June.
Google Pixel Phone app gets ‘Lookup’ feature to identify recent unknown callers and some UI tweaks for emergency call screen Read – https://t.co/QSHpOqzlV1🏳️ Flags are shared in the message for rooted users ✓#Google# Android pic.twitter.com/gIMJhT8dNXApril 5, 2024
Pixel connectivity issues
Google Pixel phones are often the first to receive the latest smart features and frequent updates, but they are also known for more glitches and software glitches, such as the update that resulted in users having to wipe their phones back in January.
The downside of having access to the latest features like lookup is that it can also occasionally lead to more serious issues, like the connectivity issues that some Pixel owners claim to have experienced since the March 2024 update.
This intermittent connection issue prevents some Pixel users from receiving calls and causes text messages to arrive with delays. According to reports on the Google Support Forums And Redditseems to be affecting the connection problem Google Pixel7 And Pixel8 series users worldwide and across multiple networks.
Says a Reedit user phone calls are up Pixel 7 Pro go straight to voicemail without the phone ringing. He also says that text messages come in batches throughout the day and not when they are sent.
This leads to him suddenly receiving multiple voicemails for calls and delayed text responses from multiple individuals and group messages sent in the last two to three hours, causing him to miss important calls.
Phone problem: Call the VM directly and text messages arrive in clumps by r/GooglePixel
Several other users have said that they are experiencing the same problem and have tried solutions. One of these suggestions is toggling between toggling Airplane Mode on and off to regain reception, which worked with limited success. Some users also claim that a factory reset worked, while others say it did not solve the problem, which certainly indicates that the problem is on Google’s side.
Google Forum user Gazaka claims that Google suggested: “Go to settings > about phone > Send feedback about this device and report there with the phone logs”. This will apparently lead to engineers checking the information, followed by a fix for the next patch update, which the user estimates is around the fifth of every month.
We’ve reached out to Google for comment on this story and will update it as soon as we hear back.
For now, no permanent fix has been found for everyone and Pixel users will have to keep a close eye on their phones for messages and missed calls until a fix is found.