This week Google announced and detailed some of the changes that are now available with the latest version of the Google Contacts app, version 2.2. This update has actually been in the process of rolling out over the past few weeks, so some users will have already received the update and have noted the new features. In either case, today’s announcement confirms version 2.2 is in the process of rolling out fully, with the expectation that all end users will receive the update within the next few days.
The most notable change is that the contact photo is once again a larger photo. According to Google, the return of these larger images is a result of this being requested by a number of its G Suite users. Underneath the new larger photo the user will find a number of ‘action buttons’ which allow the user to quickly connect with a contact by any of the available means – call, email, video call, text, and if applicable, directions to the contact’s listed address. While directory information has also now been updated to include more detailed information such as a contact’s job title, work location, manager name, and so on.
Established contacts aside, the latest version of Google Contacts will also now show users ‘Suggested contacts.’ These suggestions will be contacts that a user has yet to add to their directory, but ones that Google knows they “frequently communicate” with through other Google services. Users will be able to see a full list of these suggested contacts and add/ignore them on a contact-by-contact basis. While for those who often import a lot of contacts in one go and often encounter multiple duplicates while doing so, the updated version of Contacts will offer the option of merging multiple duplicates with one press of the button – instead of having to merge them on a per-contact basis. Last but not least the latest version of Google Contacts also includes a greater ability to customize the experience where users can choose which labels show up for individual accounts, in the same way they may have done previously with ‘All contacts.’
