The Pixel’s best voicemail feature might soon expand to non-Pixel phones, 20+ markets
Source: Android Authority
Joe Maring / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Google is preparing to expand its “Take a Message” voicemail feature beyond Pixel devices to other Android smartphones.
- Code snippets in the Phone by Google app reveal a regional expansion targeting dozens of new markets in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
- While currently limited to specific English‑speaking regions, upcoming updates suggest full transcript support will arrive in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Japan.
What is “Take a Message”?
The Take a Message feature on Pixel phones is Google’s modern voicemail system. It:
- Answers missed calls on your behalf.
- Provides real‑time transcriptions that are saved on the Phone app’s Home page.
- Detects spam in messages left by missed or declined calls from unknown numbers.
Despite its usefulness, the feature has been exclusive to Pixel devices and limited to a handful of regions—until now.
Current Availability
- Devices: Pixel 6 and newer.
- Regions: Australia, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Evidence of an Expansion
A recent analysis of Phone by Google version v221.0.909663815 uncovered several code flags that hint at a broader rollout.
Non‑Pixel Testing
enabledBeeslyV2NonPixelThe flag name suggests that the “Beesly” codename (the internal name for Take a Message) is being tested on non‑Pixel devices.
AssembleDebug / Android Authority
Market‑Specific Flags
| Flag | Description | Potential New Markets |
|---|---|---|
enableBeeslyV2AudioOnlyMarkets | Enables the audio‑only version of Take a Message. | Europe: Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovakia Americas: Mexico Asia: Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan |
enableBeeslyV2TranscriptMarkets | Enables both audio and transcription features. | Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Japan |
enableBeeslyV2InMarket | Controls the feature specifically for India. | India |
These flags indicate that Google is preparing to enable the feature (or parts of it) in many additional countries, and that support for full transcription is slated for several major European markets and Japan.
What We’ve Tested So Far
- We have not yet succeeded in activating Take a Message on non‑Pixel devices or on Pixels outside the currently supported regions.
- The presence of the flags, however, strongly suggests that a public release is forthcoming.
Disclaimer
An APK teardown can reveal work‑in‑progress code that hints at future features, but there is no guarantee that every predicted feature will reach a public release.