Back at Google I/O in June, the firm announced Google Home would be getting hands-free voice calling. The update is now rolling out to the first users.
The feature, first spotted by Redditor andybasecleff, enables users to call people from their Google Contacts, as well as businesses.
In a video posted to Reddit, he was able to say “Ok Google, Call Alamo Drafthouse.” The speaker responded instantly with “Calling Alamo Drafthouse,” before naming the movie theatre’s address.
He said “OK Google, hang up” to complete the call.
Related: Google Home vs Amazon Echo
Strangely, according to the Reddit thread, the functionality has now disappeared.
However, considering the company just released the YouTube clip below touting the feature, we’d suggest the full rollout is imminent.
In there video description Google says: “Getting things done and keeping in touch with friends and family has never been easier. Call phone numbers in the U.S. or Canada, including your personal contacts and millions of businesses, completely hands-free. Coming soon to Google Home in the U.S.”
That means it’ll probably be a while before the feature arrives for UK Google Home users.
Home coming
As well as voice calling, Google has promised proactive notifications, plus support for Spotify and Bluetooth streaming as part of forthcoming updates.
In our original review last year we said: “The Amazon Echo and Alexa maintain their crown for now, but the cheaper Google Home and the powerful Assistant have the potential to be better over time.”
That time might just be approaching, as might be the time to jump on board.
Have you snapped up a Google Home yet? How are you enjoying the smart speaker? Share your thoughts @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
