Google folds Meet into call log

Google said on May 14 that Android devices running system dialers such as Phone by Google will begin showing Google Meet calls inside the native call log, extending the phone app beyond cellular history. The company described the change as part of Jetpack Telecom v1.1.0, a developer update for voice and video apps on Android. Google said the rollout to end users will happen in phases and will start with Meet. The feature applies on devices running Android 16.1, also identified by Google as SDK 36.1, and higher. ### Which calls are being added to the phone app? Google said Google Meet is the first service being added to Android’s native dialer surfaces under the phased rollout. In practice, that means Meet calls can appear in the same recent-calls list where users already see incoming, outgoing and missed cellular calls in the Phone app. The Android Developers blog said the new release gives third-party Voice over IP apps “unified call history,” which lets system dialers display call records directly instead of forcing users to open each app separately to review past calls. (developer.android.com) Google said the same framework also supports direct callbacks from the system dialer to VoIP contacts. (9to5google.com) ### What exactly did Google ship for developers? Jetpack Telecom v1.1.0 introduced three pieces Google highlighted: unified call history, native callback support and call-log exclusion. Google said developers can register calls so the system logs them automatically, while also storing a unique call identifier that lets the dialer send a callback request back to the app. (developer.android.com) Google also said developers can keep some calls out of the native log by setting a boolean flag called `isLogExcluded` in `CallAttributesCompat`. The company said that option is meant for cases involving privacy, messaging-style interactions or other app-specific behavior where a call should not appear in the system history. (developer.android.com) ### Why is Meet first, and who comes next? Google said the native call-log rendering feature is rolling out “in phases,” starting with Google Meet. The company did not name a timetable for other apps or list launch partners beyond Meet in the materials reviewed by Reuters. (developer.android.com) The Android Developers blog said native dialers use secure package allowlists to control which VoIP apps can be displayed, a safeguard Google said is intended to limit spam. That means availability is not simply a matter of an app adopting the library; dialer support also depends on system-level controls. (developer.android.com) ### How does this change Meet’s existing call history? Google Meet’s help materials previously told users that Meet call history and the device call history did not work in sync, and that Meet calls were centrally saved on Google servers and available across signed-in devices. That older setup meant users often had to look inside Meet rather than the phone app to review activity. (developer.android.com) Google’s May 14 developer post does not say that Meet’s own history view is going away. Instead, it adds a second surface — the native dialer — where at least some Meet calls can now appear as the phased rollout expands. ### What devices and software versions are required? (support.google.com) Google said the integrated logging and callback features are available on devices running Android 16.1, or SDK 36.1, and higher. Android’s developer blog for Android 16 said Google had introduced a “minor SDK release” model, which is how the company labels versions such as 36.1. (developer.android.com) Phone by Google is one example of a supported system dialer, but Google said the capability is for “Phone by Google and other system dialers.” The company also pointed developers to its open-source Telecom Sample Dialer for local testing and to platform samples showing the new integration path. ### What happens next? May 14 is the date Google published the developer update describing the feature, and the company said user-facing dialer integration is already rolling out in phases with Meet first. (developer.android.com) Google did not provide a public schedule for broader app support, but developers can use Jetpack Telecom v1.1.0 now and test against the sample dialer and platform samples Google linked in its documentation. (9to5google.com)