Upcoming Pixel feature will let you identify unknown callers, but there’s a catch

Google Enhances Pixel Phone App with New Lookup Feature

In a move to streamline the identification of unknown callers, Google is introducing a novel “Lookup” feature to the Phone app on Pixel devices. This tool is designed to empower users to conduct online searches for unfamiliar numbers directly from their call history.

While it might draw comparisons to Truecaller, a popular phonebook app, the Lookup feature on Pixel phones operates on a distinct premise. Users can simply tap an unknown number in the Recents tab to trigger the Lookup option, which then presents a selection of apps capable of performing a web search, including the Google Search app itself. Upon choosing an app, search results for the enigmatic number are promptly displayed.

The primary objective of this feature is to assist users in identifying calls from businesses with online-listed numbers. It’s important to note that Lookup is not designed to recognize calls from personal numbers without an online footprint, setting it apart from Truecaller’s functionality.

Initially spotted by the eagle-eyed tipster AssembleDebug and reported by Piunikaweb, the Lookup feature has already been deployed to Pixel users in Japan as part of the March 2024 update. With its appearance in the beta version 127.0.620688474 of the Google Phone app, anticipation builds for an imminent release to the stable version, expanding availability to a broader user base.