v135 · miscellaneous

Incoming Call Notifications

Extend the Notifications API to allow installed PWA's to send incoming call notifications - i.e., notifications with call-styled buttons and a ringtone. This extension will help VoIP web apps to create more engaging experiences by making it easier for users to easily recognize a calling notification and answer it. Besides that, this feature will help bridge

concepts

  1. Call Notification preview

    Mock of the call-styled notification UI — avatar, ring, accept / decline buttons.

  2. Ringtone behaviour

    The PWA-for-VoIP case from the spec: pick default ringer, custom audio, or silent and dispatch a real notification with the matching behaviour.

  3. Call notification builder

    Fill out caller name, ringtone, icon, and the new scenario field and watch a styled preview alongside the JSON payload. Press simulate to fire it through Notification.

  4. VoIP Simulator

    Configure caller details, request notification permission, and simulate an incoming call. A mock phone UI shows the Answer/Decline buttons — mirroring the call-styled notification Chrome 135 delivers for installed PWAs.

why it shipped

Incoming calls are events that require an immediate response. However, VoIP web applications that need to notify the user about an incoming call via the Notifications API, can only issue a regular notification that will show up in the action/notification center without any clear differentiation. Other options include each application implementing its own in-app notification system, which will only issue notifications inside the app window. This extension to the Notifications API standard for incoming call scenarios will allow web applications to send notifications with colored action buttons

references