Google Home users in the US and Canada can now make free voice calls using Google’s shiny little smart speaker. You can call anyone on your contact list, as well as millions of companies in North America, all hands-free. And best of all, it’s all done over Wi-Fi.
The Amazon Echo was a game changer as it forced people to actively install listening devices in their homes. Google Home is Google’s answer to Echo, and that’s a very good thing too. However, Amazon has added voice calls to echo, which in May, which left Google playing catch up.
OK Google, Phone Home
Google is now adding voice calls to the already impressive Home skillset. Homeowners in the US and Canada can call anyone on their contact list for free if they are also in the US or Canada. And it’s as easy as typing «OK Google» followed by the name of the person you want to call.
It doesn’t matter if the person you’re calling is at home, at the office, or on their mobile phone, as long as you have a number saved in Google Contacts. Google Home can even recognize the voices of individual users, which means you can say something like, «OK Google, call dad» and Google will know which dad you’re referring to.