Google Phone App Adds Custom “Calling Cards” and New Voicemail Feature

Google Phone App Adds Custom “Calling Cards” and New Voicemail Feature

Google is introducing Calling Cards to its Phone app, giving Android users a fresh way to personalize incoming call screens. Similar to Apple’s Contact Poster feature on iPhones, Calling Cards let you swap out small contact photos for full-screen images and stylized names whenever someone calls you.

The update is part of Google’s Material 3 Expressive design overhaul, which first surfaced in beta testing earlier this year. With the rollout starting in version v188 of the Phone app, Calling Cards will soon be available worldwide, though Google says the feature is being released gradually.

How Calling Cards Work on Android

When the update arrives, users will see a banner in the Phone app’s Home tab that says:
“Introducing calling card: Customize how you see your contact when they call you.”

Tapping the banner—or navigating via the Contacts app—takes you to the customization page, where you can:

• Choose an image from your camera, gallery, or Google Photos
  
• Pick a font and color to style your contact’s name
  

Unlike iOS’s Contact Posters, Calling Cards are device-specific. This means:

• You can create custom cards for each of your contacts
  
• They only appear on your device, not on theirs
  
• Contacts cannot edit how their Calling Card looks on your phone
  

So, you get full creative control—from fun themes for friends to professional designs for work contacts.

A New “Take a Message” Feature for Missed Calls

Alongside Calling Cards, Google is also rolling out Take a Message, a smart voicemail tool. With this feature, the Phone app can:

• Automatically answer and transcribe voicemails when you miss a call
  
• Let you record a custom greeting or choose from Google’s preset options
  
• Store voicemail audio and transcripts privately on your device
  

Currently, Take a Message is available on:

• Pixel 4 and newer phones
  
• Pixel Watch 2 or newer (when paired with a Pixel 6 or later phone)
  

Why This Matters

With Calling Cards, Google is bringing a much-requested personalization feature to Android’s default Phone app. Meanwhile, Take a Message adds a practical productivity boost for missed calls. Together, these updates make the Phone app more expressive and more useful.

Both features are rolling out in phases, so don’t worry if they haven’t appeared on your device yet.

TechCity