With everything a smartphone can do these days, it's often easy to overlook one of the device's most basic functions: voice calling. Communication over the phone has become more complicated in a world of robocalls and automated voice trees, but your phone may already have the tools to make talking to people (or not) easier. Here are some suggestions.
Quickly contact companies
Do you need to call a company that is not in your contact list? Simply search for the company online with Apple sirihe Google Assistant (or your new Gemini helper) or Samsung bixby. When you see the property in the search results, simply tap the phone icon or phone number to make the call, or instruct the virtual assistant to do so.
(If you're concerned about sharing information with your assistant or using artificial intelligence programs, read the software's privacy policy to see how the company uses your data.)
Detect unwanted calls
Don't waste valuable time on calls you didn't want to answer. On an iPhone, open the Settings app, select Phone, and scroll down to turn on the Silence unknown calls characteristic. Calls from numbers not in your contact list will now be silenced and sent directly to voicemail.
apple live voicemail The feature in iOS 17 offers a real-time transcription of messages being recorded, and has the option to connect with callers while they leave you a message, much like how it worked in the old days with answering machines. automatic. You can also send an incoming call directly to live voicemail by tapping the voicemail icon on the call screen. Live Voicemail can be turned on or off in the Phone app settings.
Android-based phones have their own call management tools, but they vary depending on the model and software version. To see what's available to you, open the Phone app, tap the Menu icon (the three vertical dots) in the top right corner, and select Settings.
Call screening features can be turned on and off for when you are waiting for a call from someone who is not in your contact list. And on Google Contacts appyou can even route calls from selected numbers directly to voicemail.
Skip the waiting line
Apps and websites have taken over various customer service tasks, such as rebooking flights, but sometimes you need to talk to a human. Many companies now use an automated callback service so that you don't have to languish on hold, but in other cases Google Assistant may be able to wait on your behalf..
Wait for mewhich was available on Google's Pixel phones in 2020, is a method. You must first enable Hold for Me in the Google Phone app settings, but when you then make a call and are put on hold, tap the Hold for Me option on the phone screen. Google Assistant waits and alerts you when a representative is on the line.
If you don't have a Pixel phone, there's Google's similar “Talk to a Live Rep” experiment. Search laboratories. It is available in the Google app for iOS and Android; Tap the lab flask icon in the upper left corner to access Search Labs. “Talk to a Live Representative,” which will be active until the end of 2024, lists 1-800 numbers for several airlines and other companies, and tells you Allows you to request a call and call back when the representative is there. However, it is still experimental and may not work consistently.
Don't miss calls
If you need to keep the ringer silenced but don't want to miss an important call, use a visual or vibration notification to alert you.
In iOS 17, go to the main Settings app for Accessibility and then Audio & Visual to LED flash for alerts. On Android 14, tap Settings, go to Notifications, and select Quick notifications to access the camera alert and screen flash options. You'll see a burst of light or color when you receive a call.
People sensitive to flash should use the vibration alternative. In it Sound and haptic settings On an iPhone, you can assign custom vibrations to callers. Android phones, including Pixel and Galaxy Models have their own adjustable vibration options.
You'll probably find even more useful tools in your phone's settings once you start snooping around. And you can enjoy the irony of using 21st century software to help with a communication method that has been around for a long time. 148 years as of this month..
