HomePod’s rumored voice calling feature has been all but confirmed in iOS 12 beta 5.
A new “Personal Requests” setup screen now displays an additional icon where the Phone app will sit, and reads “make phone calls” in its list of abilities. It indicates HomePod users will be able to initiate calls for the first time when iOS 12 makes its public debut this fall.
You can hand calls off to your HomePod from your iPhone now, but you can’t ask HomePod to make calls by itself. You can’t answer calls on your HomePod, either, so you still need to keep your iPhone close by. But that’s going to change.
HomePod will make calls this fall
A recent rumor revealed Apple is testing a number of new HomePod features, including support for multiple timers, making phone calls, fetching voicemail, and more.
iOS 12 beta 5, which rolled out to developers on Monday, confirms at least one of those features is indeed on its way. 9to5Mac spotted a refreshed Personal Requests setup screen for HomePod that spills the beans.
A blank icon sits where the Phone app will be displayed, while the feature’s description now reads, “Allow anyone to use this HomePod to send and read messages, add reminders, create notes, make phone calls, and more.”
The phone feature can’t be used yet since there is no beta for HomePod’s next update, but we’re expecting it to roll out to everyone in a big HomePod update this fall.