Google revealed a new feature for its Voice platform on Thursday that allows you to make three-way calls. In addition, the call interface has had multiple tweaks to facilitate navigation and make the new merge call features easier to access.
Google Voice has been around for quite a while and still has a loyal fan base. It’s currently one of the easier free call-forwarding and voicemail subscription services you can find, and while it doesn’t receive many updates these days, it’s nice to see that Google hasn’t forgotten about it. A Google representative did not immediately respond to CNET’s request for comment.
A new three-way calling feature
Sometimes adding another person to a call is necessary. Whether you’re trying to finalize some customer service issue between two third-party businesses or even bring on a translator to the call, the feature is a welcomed one to Voice, even if it’s not something you may find yourself using every day.
With the latest update, you’ll be able to add another person to a call with just a few taps. Two new buttons will now appear while you’re in a Google Voice call to support the feature: Add and Merge. Each new button functions as you’d expect it to: Add will allow you to add a new person to the call, while Merge will let you merge two existing calls to create a conference call.
“I’m most excited about Google Voice getting support for three-way calling,” said Patrick Holland, CNET’s in-house mobile expert and managing editor. “It’s so 90s of Google!” According to Holland, “Part of Google Voice’s charm is its old school telephone call functionality. And at a time when apps and services like FaceTime, WhatsApp and Zoom dominate the way a lot of us ‘call’ each other, it’s refreshing to still have a service like Google Voice around, especially with these new features and UI.”
Revamped in-call user interface
The addition of the Add and Merge buttons is a part of a larger reworking of Google Voice’s in-call user interface, which is now displayed more consistently across devices and is easier to navigate. All the important and expected call controls are now easily accessible from the UI without being hidden behind menus. Google likens the updated UI layout and placement to that of Meet’s, which is to say, simple and straightforward.
Availability to Google Voice users
The new in-call UI update will be available to all Google Voice users, while three-way calling will be available for Google Workspace subscribers with Voice Starter, Voice Standard and Voice Premier subscriptions, along with customers who have SIP Link, according to the blog post. The rollout of the updates began Thursday but may take longer for the features to appear for some. The features are available on computers, Android, and iPhone or iPad devices.
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