Google Unveils Innovative Body Temperature Scanning Feature on Pixel 8 Pro, Exclusively in the U.S.

In a groundbreaking move, Google has rolled out a major update to its Pixel Thermometer app, introducing a body temperature scanning feature exclusively on the Pixel 8 Pro. However, there's a catch – the feature is currently limited to users in the United States.

The Pixel Thermometer app now leverages the TelephonyManager.getSimCountryIso() method to check if the ISO country code is set to "us," indicating that the user's SIM card is connected to a U.S. network.

Google has received approval for this cutting-edge health feature only within the United States, marking a significant step forward in incorporating health monitoring capabilities into smartphones.

For users outside the U.S., a community of modders has quickly found a workaround to enable this exclusive feature globally. Notorious modder @Za_Raczke has developed a simple application that utilizes the same method used for enabling Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) in unsupported regions.

To activate the body temperature scanning feature on non-U.S. devices, users need to install the modder's app, which grants shell-level privileges using Shizuku.

This enables the app to call the TelephonyManager APIs and subsequently alter the ISO country code to "us," effectively unlocking the sought-after temperature scanning functionality in the Thermometer app.

What makes this mod particularly noteworthy is its persistence even after resetting the country code, as long as users refrain from wiping the app's data or uninstalling it.

This means that users can enjoy the enhanced health monitoring feature without the need for constant modifications, providing a seamless experience for those outside the U.S.

While Google's initial rollout of the body temperature scanning feature is geographically limited, the rapid response from the modding community showcases the demand for such innovative functionalities on a global scale.

As technology continues to advance, the intersection of health and smartphones is becoming increasingly prominent, opening new possibilities for users worldwide.