Google Contacts widgets to soon let you see & respond to latest messages

Google Contacts, your virtual address book, is about to get a whole lot more interactive. A recent report from AssembleDebug on TheSpAndroid reveals plans for a new widget feature that will let you see and directly respond to the latest messages from your contacts right from your homescreen.

Code sleuth AssembleDebug shared a few screenshots showing off the new widget. I’ve added them below. You can click/tap on the images to view them in full size:

The finding was backed up by the folks over at 9to5Google too. Digging through the code, they uncovered compelling evidence suggesting an upcoming ability to “See and respond to the latest messages on your widget.” To make this possible, Google Contacts will need notification access. Here’s a snippet from the app code:

<string name=”notification_permission_dialog_title”>See messages on your widget</string>

The beauty of this feature is its potential to work with virtually any messaging app you have installed. Whether it’s SMS, WhatsApp, or Signal, you’ll be able to quickly interact with incoming messages without even having to open the individual apps.

This exciting update likely ties into the Google Contacts widget redesign introduced in October. The widget can now be shaped as a convenient pill or an expansive rectangle covering your entire screen – the perfect canvas to display recent messages.

Google appears to be taking inspiration from the system-level Conversations widget introduced in Android 12 while enhancing its functionality. The original Conversations widget is great for previewing, but this potential Google Contacts enhancement adds the power of direct response for unparalleled convenience.

While the release date for this feature hasn’t been announced yet, the findings by 9to5Google provide a strong indication of what’s coming. Google Contacts is poised to become a mini communication hub built right into your Android homescreen.