Phone by Google to roll out ‘Expressive Calling’ feature soon

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Key Points of This Article

• A new feature, “Expressive Calling (Call Reason),” appears to be rolling out to the default “Phone by Google” app for Android, allowing callers to state the reason for their call before the recipient answers.
• We have confirmed that new code strings related to the “Expressive Calling (Call Reason)” feature have been added in the v201 (v201.0.833052069-publicbeta-pixel) update for the “Phone by Google” app.
• This feature allows a caller to send a preset message with an emoji—such as “It’s urgent!,” “Catch up,” “News to share,” or “Quick question”—in advance via SMS through the Google Messages app.

A new feature, “Expressive Calling (Call Reason),” appears to be rolling out to the “Phone by Google” app, the default phone application for Android, primarily on Google Pixel devices. This feature will allow callers to communicate the purpose of their call before the recipient answers.

In the “Phone by Google” app v201 (v201.0.833052069-publicbeta-pixel) update, distributed on Thursday, November 20, 2025, we confirmed the addition of new in-app code strings related to the “Expressive Calling (Call Reason)” feature.

<string name="expresso_settings_title">Expressive Calling</string>
    <string name="expresso_settings_summary">Enhance calling with visual and haptic feedback</string>
    <string name="expresso_expresso_line">Call Reason</string>
    <string name="expresso_expresso_summary">Notify and see when a call is urgent</string>
    <string name="expresso_urgent">It's urgent!</string>
    <string name="expresso_catch_up">Catch up</string>
    <string name="expresso_news">News to share</string>
    <string name="expresso_question">Quick question</string>
    <string name="expresso_ringing_title">Urgent call can interrupt Do Not Disturb</string>
    <string name="expresso_ringing_description">Allow incoming urgent calls to make sound</string>

<string name="expresso_settings_title">表情や感情も伝わる通話</string>
    <string name="expresso_settings_summary">視覚と触覚のフィードバックで通話をより便利に</string>
    <string name="expresso_expresso_summary">緊急の通話を通知で確認</string>
    <string name="expresso_urgent">至急の要件があります</string>
    <string name="expresso_catch_up">近況報告しましょう</string>
    <string name="expresso_news">ニュースがあります</string>
    <string name="expresso_question">質問があります</string>
    
    <string name="expresso_catch_up_snackbar_text">「要件:  近況報告しましょう」というメッセージを送信しました</string>
    <string name="expresso_ringing_title">緊急通話はサイレント モードを中断可能</string>
    <string name="expresso_ringing_description">緊急通報の着信音を鳴らすことを許可します</string>
    
    <string name="notification_missed_expresso_call_text">緊急通話の不在着信</string>
    <string name="notification_missed_expresso_call_title">%s からの着信に出られませんでした</string>

The new “Expressive Calling (Call Reason)” feature in the “Phone by Google” app allows you to send a preset message with an emoji, such as “It’s urgent!,” “Catch up,” “News to share,” or “Quick question,” in advance via SMS through the Google Messages app when placing a call. This allows the recipient to see the reason for the call before answering.

For “Urgent” calls, it seems the ringtone will sound even if “Do Not Disturb” mode is turned on. However, there will also be a setting to allow ringtones for urgent calls, so it won’t necessarily always ring through. Additionally, if an “Urgent” call is missed, it appears a different notification from a standard missed call alert will be displayed.

Furthermore, as the code strings above indicate, Japanese language support is also included for this new “Expressive Calling (Call Reason)” feature. This means there is a high probability it will be launched in regions including Japan. However, it is a bit concerning that the part which should be “用件” (yōken, meaning “reason/business”) has been translated with the homophone “要件” (yōken, meaning “requirement”).

While the new “Expressive Calling (Call Reason)” feature for the “Phone by Google” app has not been released yet, it is expected to roll out soon. That said, it will likely be a new feature for Google Pixel devices.

“Phone by Google” App Link