Google Home will help users locate smartphones

Google has added a function to its Home speaker, which allows it to help detect a smartphone. By giving a voice command, Home can make the smartphone ring. This also works with multiple smartphones.

The new feature was announced by Google earlier this week at the event that also announced the new Pixel smartphones, but was not yet available to users of the smart speaker. 9To5Google noted that the functionality has now been implemented in Home, allowing the voice command “ring my phone” or “where’s my phone” to ring a connected smartphone, making it easier to find.

If several devices are connected, the Home speaker processes them one by one. This happens in a certain order that apparently cannot be changed. Incidentally, the functionality also works when the connected smartphones are in ‘do not disturb’ mode, or when the volume is low.

iPhones can also be located with this new feature. However, due to restrictions within iOS, a ‘real’ phone call is set up here, so nothing can be heard if the user has turned off the ring volume.