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Google Assistant Updated with a Feature That Just Makes Sense on Android Auto

Google has recently announced a new Google Assistant feature for Android users that would feel like home on Android Auto too. And it’s because it makes calls made while driving even more convenient.
Hold for Me on Android 11 1 photo
Photo: Google
The new capability is called Hold for Me, and it’s specifically supposed to use Google Assistant to wait on calls until there’s an answer.

In other words, if you call a toll-free number or try to reach out to a business that typically requires you to wait until a line is available, Google Assistant can do the whole thing for you and then let you know when a human being actually answers.

This means you no longer have to wait so many minutes listening to boring calls, as you can just focus on the road while driving and wait for Google Assistant to let you know when you can begin talking.

The only problem for drivers is that the current implementation of the feature doesn’t allow them to listen to music while Google Assistant is handling the call, but there’s a chance the search giant deals with this limitation in the coming updates.

At this point, Hold for Me is currently available only for a handful of users in the United States and owning the recently announced Pixel 5 or the Pixel 4a 5G. Only English calls to toll-free numbers are supported for now.

Needless to say, the availability of Hold for Me is pretty limited, but this is only because the feature is still in its early days and Google needs more data to improve its reliability before rolling it out to everybody.

The bigger challenge for Google is to release it in non-US markets and non-English speaking countries, though right now it’s pretty clear this isn’t a priority. It’ll take a while until Hold for Me becomes a thing, but the good news is that new methods to deal with calls that could get us distracting while driving are already on their way.
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About the author: Bogdan Popa
Bogdan Popa profile photo

Bogdan keeps an eye on how technology is taking over the car world. His long-term goals are buying an 18-wheeler because he needs more space for his kid’s toys, and convincing Google and Apple that Android Auto and CarPlay deserve at least as much attention as their phones.
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