Make calls to Google home Nest Hub Max

[Tom1952]

We are trying to make calls to elderly mom on nest hub max. They mean a lot to her in that she can hear from far away kids and grandkids.  We gave it to her during covid, at which time we succesfully used Duo to make a video call to her device. We have reconnected it, but now Duo has become Meet. 

She no longer has a cell phone. She has a gmail address, and a land line.  How do we make a video  call to her? 

Thanks

[David_K · Accepted solution]

This is the documentation you're looking for:
Set up calling on your Google Nest speaker or display - Google Nest Help
Make a call on your Google Nest speaker or display - Google Nest Help (this also has steps on how to receive calls)

[Tom1952]

Thanks much, we made some progress. But the "setting up calling" on Home has a step that requires us to enter a phone number capable of receiving a verification SMS text. Well grandma no longer has a cell phone. She has a landline (no texts), and a Gmail account. Is there a workaround for this?

She has a gmail.

She has a landline. 

Or could we use my phone number as a substitute? I don't anticipate receiving Meet calls myself, and she only has about 5 callers. 

[David_K]

What part is prompting you for that? Google Meet/Google Duo calling doesn't use a phone number.

[Tom1952]

That's good news! Before answering your question, could I ask you what Meet/Duo uses for a unique identifier for a person who I intend to call? 

I will do my best to answer your question, but I am speaking only from memory. I was following the intructions for setting up google meet calling. I think I was asked to provide a verifiable phone number when I went through :       Google Home/grandma's place/ settings/ communication/voice and video apps....          From there I can't retrace my steps because if I try to do it again, it no longer takes me to the setup instructions  But why don't I go over there tomorrow. To prepare for that... How could do a reset so that I can get back to those set up instructions? i.e. how could I erase what I did previously and go through set up again?   Thank you very much for your help. 

Tom

[David_K]

You sync your contacts, which is how calling works.

In the Google Home app, tap Settings > Communication > Video & Voice Apps. You can unlink Google Meet / Google Duo from here if it shows as linked so you can start again.

This article suggests you should be able to make calls without a phone number but this may only apply to mobile devices, as it doesn't explicitly state about speakers and displays.

Get started with calling in Google Meet - Google Meet Help

I did also find this community thread which didn't receive an update, so unfortunately it does in fact seem like your mileage is going to vary here.

How to use the new Google Meet calling without a phone number. - Community Console

Try these steps:

In the Google Home app, tap Settings > Communication > Video & Voice Apps. Tap Google Meet or Google Duo, than tap Continue. I've already linked a phone number so at this point I see a screen that says that, with an option to enter the number manually instead if it's not correct. If I tap that, then tap "not now" on the screen after that, it links anyway but I wonder what will happen in your case.