Android is finally adding the one feature Apple’s had for years, and it’s about to change how people see you when you call

Last year, Google introduced its own take on Apple’s popular Contact Poster feature, branding it as “Calling Card.” The feature allowed Android users to customise the images that appear when they call friends, family, or colleagues. However, Google initially left out a key function that Apple had offered all along: the ability to create a personal card for yourself.

That’s set to change soon. Since October, it has been known that the Phone by Google app was developing a solution called “My Calling Card,” and recent findings suggest the feature is nearly ready for public release. The team at Android Authority was able to locate and activate My Calling Card in the beta version 204.0.852029473 of the app, providing a closer look at how it works.

Once the feature officially rolls out, users will find My Calling Card in the Settings page of the Phone by Google app, under the Calling Card section. Setting it up is designed to be straightforward, guiding users step by step to create a custom card with personal images, contact information, or other details they wish to share.

Google took its time with this one

After tapping Create, you’ll see a welcome screen where you pick your Google account. The next page lets you choose an image from your Camera, Gallery, or Google Photos. You can also pick the font style, font size, and color you want. If you’ve already made a calling card for your contacts, this process will feel familiar.

Once you finish customizing, you can preview your calling card and decide who sees it – everyone or just your contacts. The preview page tells users that their image “may be cropped to fit different screens.” While Android is catching up with this feature, Apple users have had their share of frustrating iPhone reliability issues lately.

Android Authority points out that your custom card might not show up if your contacts have already set a calling card for you. But if they haven’t made one for you, your personalized card will appear on their screen when you call. This seems designed to avoid conflicts with people who already set up calling cards for their contacts.

Based on all the information available, My Calling Card should launch soon. It’s a bit surprising that Google didn’t include this feature when they first launched Calling Card several months ago. Despite some serious Apple product safety concerns emerging recently, now that My Calling Card is almost ready, hopefully Google won’t wait much longer to release it.