Google’s Latest Android Update: Blocking Number for Enhanced User Control

Google aims to simplify the process of blocking phone numbers on Android, introducing new features to enhance the effectiveness of this functionality. While the current Android operating system provides various solutions to combat spam and harassment, users often face the inconvenience of separately blocking calls and text messages from specific numbers using different applications.

The latest versions of the Google Phone app reveal the company’s efforts to streamline number blocking. Instead of requiring users to block calls and SMS individually, the upcoming feature suggests an automatic blocking method for both, facilitating a more seamless experience. The analysis of code sequences in Google Phone versions 118 and 117 indicates ongoing development, with the disappearance of these strings in recent updates suggesting a potential future release.

The identified code sequences, located in the “migrate” section, hint at a simplified blocking solution allowing users to automatically block calls and text messages by adding a number to the block list. Furthermore, this block list appears to be shareable with other applications, fostering a cohesive approach to number blocking across various functionalities.

This shared block list is expected to be compatible with different Android devices utilizing the Google Phone application. The inclusion of migration support in the APK file suggests that users can seamlessly transfer their block list to new devices, eliminating the need to reconfigure spam number blocking operations when changing phones.

In addition to blocking calls and SMS, the analysis of the APK file suggests that the Google Phone app may also offer features such as automatically activating the answering machine, blocking voice messages, and automatically deleting them. This comprehensive approach aims to enhance the overall user experience and provide a more efficient solution to combat spam calls.

While the success of a shared block list relies on the cooperation of other applications integrating relevant code, the prospect of blocking calls and SMS through a single action is a welcome feature. The convenience of a common block list shared among all installed apps on a device could significantly improve users’ ability to manage and reduce the impact of spam calls in their daily lives.