Google Contacts just got an easy way to share custom Calling Cards

Contacts picking up Calling Cards support last year was one very cool addition, but it took Google a little while to figure out sharing features, letting you set your own Calling Card for others to see. A little earlier this month we spotted Google working on another way to share your custom Calling Card, and now it looks like this latest upgrade is already starting to go live.

We’re talking about the ability to share Calling Cards through vCards (.vcf files). These were built to facilitate the quick and easy exchange of contact info, so it makes all the sense in the world for Google to bundle Calling Card customizations in here, too.

Just like we saw with that earlier preview, users will now find the option to select their Calling Card data when choosing which info they want shared through a .vcf file they’re creating. We’re seeing this arrive on multiple devices running Google Contacts version 4.88.28.981523105.

While that’s the main change we’re noticing in this release, we’ve also spotted another small tweak, as you may have spotted in the second screenshot above: that new “View archived info” option under contact settings. Here, the app keeps track of all the information you’ve previously included as part of “Your info.”

Finally, this one’s not something we noticed in the app itself, but as part of Google’s support documentation: Calling Card effects. For months now, that page has described the ability of users to customize Calling Card images with effects:

Tip: You can adjust the photo position and scale or add an effect. To add effects, tap Effects ✨

We can play with font colors and text options, sure, but there’s nothing in the app presently that feels like “Effects” — anything like a photo filter. Maybe this is something Google’s thinking about adding, but if it is, the company sure is taking its sweet time — archived copies show that text’s been around for over a year at this point. If it is ever happening, we’re not holding our breath.