Google Tone

How do I use Google Tone?

Why Google Tone?

 

Google Tone helps computers communicate like we do—by talking to each other. It's a browser extension that lets Chrome use your computer's speakers to produce a special sound signature for other computers' microphones to identify as a URL.

 

How does Google Tone work?

 

Google Tone turns on your computer's microphone (while the extension is on). Google Tone temporarily stores a URL on Google’s servers and uses your computer's speakers and microphone to send it to nearby computers connected to the Internet. Any computer within earshot that also has the Google Tone extension installed and turned on can receive a Google Tone notification. The notification will display the URL along with your Google Profile name and picture.

 

To receive a URL with Google Tone, Chrome needs to keep your microphone on. Google Tone may not work in loud spaces, over a distance, with a poor Internet connection, or on computers without a microphone or with a microphone incapable of detecting sound broadcast by Google Tone.

 

Is it secure?

 

Google Tone only broadcasts URLs, so recipients do not automatically gain access to a page to which they wouldn't ordinarily have access. If you broadcast your Gmail inbox URL, for example, recipients who click on the Google Tone notification will be prompted to log in to their Gmail. However, Google Tone broadcasts are public by design, so it's best not to use them to exchange confidential information.