The next Google Pixel update

The next Google Pixel update could let you look up unknown numbers

You have a missed call, but it's not from one of your contacts, just a random number. Before deciding whether to call back, wouldn't you want to know exactly who called? That's the idea behind services and now Google seems to be wanting to join the 'unknown number lookup' game inside its Phone app. Google Pixel phones look set to get a new smart feature called “look up” which allows you to identify unknown callers. Tipster Assembler Debug spotted the feature in the Google Phone app beta version 127.0.620688474, and explained how it captures an unknown number in the ‘Recents’ tab of the app, which when selected prompts users to select an appropriate app like Google Search to check the web for the number. An option to do just that, labelled as "Lookup" under numbers from your call log that aren't in your contacts, has been spotted in the Google Phone app beta version 127.0.620688474.

This should then serve up results for an unidentified number query and help users discover who’s been calling. For now, the look up feature appears to work best for finding businesses which have listed details online rather than private individuals and scam callers. This currently limits the feature's use, but hopefully we’ll see the integration of features like automatically filtering and blocking untrustworthy calls in the final version, like those seen in apps like Truecaller, which prevent potential fraudsters. When you tap on "Lookup", you get a list of apps on your device that can handle the 'Web search' intent, of which the Google app is one. If you pick the Google app, then it will do a Google search for the number in question, which is of course something you've always been able to do manually by copying the number from your call log and pasting it into Google search.

So the intention here seems to be to allow you to quickly identify businesses which have their contact details indexed by Google, which may have called you. The usefulness of this feature is thus impaired since it won't be able to identify private individuals. Google Pixel phones are often the first to receive the latest smart features and frequent updates, however, they’re also known for having more glitches and software hiccups, such as the update which led to users needing to wipe their phones earlier also. The flip side of having access to the latest features like look up is that it can also occasionally lead to more serious problems like the connection issues some Pixel owners claim to have been experiencing since the last update. This intermittent connection problem is preventing some Pixel users from being able to receive calls and is causing text messages to arrive delayed. According to reports, the connectivity problem appears to be affecting Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 8 series users worldwide and across multiple networks.

Several users have said they are experiencing the problem and have tried workarounds. One of these suggestions involves cycling between turning airplane mode on/off to get their reception back, which worked with limited success. Some users also claim a factory reset has worked, while others say it hasn’t solved the issue, which certainly points to the problem being on Google’s end. Google Forum suggested: “Go to settings > about phone > Send feedback about this device and report there with the phone logs”. This apparently will lead to engineers checking the information, followed by a fix on the next patch update, which the user says is roughly the fifth of each month. No permanent solution for everyone has been found, and Pixel users will need to keep a close eye on their phones for messages and missed calls until a fix is found.

The look up feature went live in Japan as part of the March Feature Drop and could roll out globally in the next drop. Google Pixel Phone app to get 'Lookup' feature to identify recent unknown callers and some UI tweaks for the emergency in-call. Then again, Truecaller and the likes could even in theory integrate themselves into this system, letting you perform a lookup in their databases once you hit that "Lookup" button, adding an extra tiny bit of convenience. This has apparently could arrive around the world by mid of this year.