Make Voice Calls on Google Home

The Google Domicile smart speaker is now capable of making phone calls.

Google outset teased the feature at its I/O developer briefing earlier this year, but information technology's now rolling out to users in the Us and Canada. Once you go it, just say "OK Google, call mom" or anyone else in your contacts list and Home volition place the phone call over Wi-Fi.

Yous tin besides contact "millions of businesses across United states of america and Canada," Google says, considering Domicile taps into Google's business listings. "Calling the bakery on 24th Street, ordering flowers from the nearest florist, and wishing grandma a happy birthday are at present as easy every bit 'Hey Google,'" Google says.

Unfortunately, calls volition bear witness upwards on the recipient's telephone as "Unknown" or "No Caller ID" unless y'all have Google Vocalisation or Project Fi, Google's wireless service. "By the terminate of the year, nosotros'll make it possible for your own mobile number to be displayed," Google says.

If you have Google Vocalization or Project Fi, open up the Google Dwelling app and enable caller ID via Assistant settings.

Also of notation, calls to 911 are non yet supported. As Google notes in its Projection Fi FAQs, "Calls to 911 over Wi-Fi or a information connection operate differently than traditional calls to 911. Calls to 911 over Wi-Fi or a data connexion may not connect to local 911 operators, or may connect to the authoritative offices of the emergency operators, which may not exist staffed after hours or past trained 911 operators."

Yous might recall that last month there were reports that a Google Home called 911 during a domestic dispute in New Mexico, but that was after amended to say that it was an unknown smart speaker.

If you have an Alexa device, you tin can ask it to call or send a message to anyone with a supported Echo device or the Alexa App for free.

Most Chloe Albanesius

Chloe Albanesius

Chloe has led PCMag's news coverage for more than 10 years, editing and writing stories about the innovations that have shaped the terminal decade and the companies behind them. She also oversees the site's how-to coverage. Earlier joining PCMag.com, Chloe was a reporter covering tech policy on Capitol Colina for The National Journal'due south Technology Daily and financial IT for Incisive Media in NYC. She'southward held internships at NBC's Meet the Press, washingtonpost.com, the Tate Gallery press office in London, Roll Call, and Congressional Quarterly. She graduated with a bachelor'due south degree in journalism from American University in Washington, D.C.