Google has removed the 'Call Home' function from its Home app, affecting how Nest device users interact with their smart displays.
Feature Removal Consequences
The 'Call Home' feature, launched in 2019, allowed users to easily call their home devices without needing additional apps or numbers. This function was particularly popular among parents for checking on their children. However, the option, previously located above 'Broadcast' in the app, is now missing, leading to user complaints on platforms like Reddit.
Currently, users have no seamless alternative. They may use Google Meet on Nest devices, but this solution requires separate Google accounts and a complicated setup.
User Reactions and Company Response
User reactions have been predominantly negative due to the removal's abrupt nature and lack of explanation. Google has yet to provide an official statement about the change. Support teams have suggested users submit feedback through the app.
Speculation links the removal to ongoing updates within the broader smart-home ecosystem at Google; however, confirmation remains pending. Until Google's response, users must adapt to less convenient methods or adjust their smart-home configurations.
