Google is said to be removing this feature from its Phone app

The Phone by Google app, for years, has consistently been hailed for its simple, clean, and easy-to-use interface for making calls. However, there was another, rather nifty feature on the app, which made it stand apart. A Google Maps integration, which sadly, the company is killing off.

What Nearby places is and why it is being scrapped

Imagine you’re using an Android smartphone, looking for the number of that local pizza place you always wanted to try, or perhaps, or maybe that of a salon to get your haircut. Well, rather than scouring countless web pages on the internet, the Phone by Google app allows you to search for the numbers of all local businesses around you, using a Google Maps integration. All you have to do is type in the name of the business or location you are looking for in the search bar, and voila!

ALSO READ: Android 15 may let you locate your smartphone even when it is switched off

Sadly though, Google confirmed that it has killed off the feature from the latest stable release version of the app, version 125. Beta users of the program had already reported that the feature was gone from their devices. The search bar on top of the app, which previously said “Search contacts and places,” now just says “Search contact.”

What’s more, ‘Nearby places’ no longer appears in the app’s settings. The feature, when it was around, would use your location to take into account what was nearby. Additionally, enabling Personalised search results would improve your search results by including items from your Google search history.

While the convenience was appreciated, it was under-utilised all the same. According to Google, only a very small fraction of its users regularly used the feature. What’s more, many users also reported that the results on the phone app weren’t always entirely accurate.

Google's alternative to the the Nearby places feature

Instead of Nearby Places on the Phone by Google app, is now recommending users to rely on Google Maps for searching for numbers and places instead.

ALSO READ: Google Maps in India improved with AI features

Google Maps was recently updated with several AI-powered features, including a Google Lens integration, address descriptors, routing for vehicle fuel efficiency, and more. What’s more, the app also allows you to search for businesses and their numbers all over the world, rather than just those around the corner, which was the case with the Phone app.