Google rolls out first cross-device features on Android

Google has released two useful features, previously announced at I/O in May: call casting and internet sharing. They are the first wave of the company's new "cross-device services," which make it easier to switch between Android devices.

According to Google's support website, Call casting allows you to switch video calls "from your device to another device with the same Google Account..." For example, a video calling app may allow you to cast your call to another device, and the app will display a list of nearby devices to which you can cast." At the time, this only works for Google Meet; to use it, click the Cast button, which appears identical to the existing Cast/Chromecast icon).

Meanwhile, Internet sharing allows you to "automatically share hotspot access with your own devices," as Google stated. It is compatible with Chromebooks and Android devices that are signed into your Google Account, as long as Bluetooth and device location are enabled. It does not function with Samsung devices, thus Google recommends utilizing the auto-hotspot option instead.

The new feature is presently available on Android 11+ with Google Play services version 24.28.34. That is now in beta, so we should expect a wider distribution shortly.