Google renames Phone app to ‘Phone by Google’ on the Play Store

We had reported earlier that Google’s Phone app was rolling out to non-Pixel devices. Google had also added a “Verified Calls” feature to the app. And to add to this wider rollout, Google has also renamed its Phone app to “Phone by Google” on the Play Store.

Earlier called just ‘Phone’, the new name for the app now stands as - “Phone by Google – Caller ID & Spam Protection”.

The whole “caller ID & Spam Protection” is to attract people on the Play Store by immediately highlighting the app’s main capabilities and how it stands different from other calling apps. It’s likely that users on the Play Store will see the name and want to learn more about the app, writes 9to6Google. 

Also Read: Google Phone app’s call recording feature is now available on some Xiaomi phones

Of course, added to this is the “by Google” part that’s a standard move by the company but it also lends a feel of confidence and verifiability. The “Phone by Google” was also a tagline the company had used to advertise the original Pixel and Pixel XL when they launched to familiarise people with the new smartphone brand.

Google has added a similar naming scheme on other apps like - Wear OS, Files, Gallery Go. PhotoScan, Lookout, Read Along and Socratic.

However, reports say that there is not going to be any change to the actual app once it appears on your homescreen or app launcher.

Google also has “Messages”, but it remains to be seen if that gets a naming rehaul too. Previously known as “Android Messages”, Google made the app drop the OS name to become Google Messages.

Like is the case with the Phone app right now, the Messages app also is rather widely available as a default RCS client for many smartphones.