In an emergency situation, it may not always be easy or possible for someone to tell emergency responders on a call about what might be happening. Because of this, Google is announcing a new feature for the Phone app on Pixel devices, as well as "select Android devices", which makes it easier for users to give emergency responders the necessary information for a team to be dispatched.
In an update coming soon, the Phone app will present three options during an emergency call - Medical, Fire, and Police - in case the user is unable to speak for some reason. Users can still talk to the operator after the automated message is spoken, though.
Each of the options will result in a specific message that will be spoken by an automated voice service, which will not only inform responders of what the situation might be but also let them know the location of the user. It's worth noting that this information is often already shared with emergency responders, but having it spoken may make it more readily accessible.
Google says the feature works entirely on-device and regardless of whether you have an internet connection or not, so all the information is kept between you and the emergency phone operator.
This capability will roll out to users in the United States in the coming months, starting with Pixel phones. It's worth noting that not every Android device uses Google's Phone app, which is likely what's implied when Google says the feature will be available for select Android devices.
