The Truecaller app has historically flagged certain incoming spam and scam calls, allowing users to reject them. However, due to Apple’s privacy regulations, the iOS version functioned less effectively compared to its Android counterpart, resulting in the iPhone being unable to identify many callers that were successfully flagged on Android devices.
With the introduction of a new Apple API in iOS 18.2, this privacy issue has been addressed, enabling Truecaller to not only identify known spammers but also to automatically block them…
Issues with the Truecaller App on iPhone
On Android, Truecaller would verify the phone number shown in caller ID against a database of known spam callers. If a match was found, it would display a spam or scam alert on the incoming call screen and could even fully block known junk calls so they wouldn’t come through at all.
However, Apple’s privacy policies restricted the app’s functionality on iPhones; incoming callers’ phone numbers were treated as personal data, which meant Truecaller couldn’t transmit this information to its servers. As a workaround, the iOS version only periodically downloaded offline databases, making its ability to check against phone numbers less thorough.
Resolution with iOS 18.2
To tackle this issue while ensuring user privacy, Apple introduced a Live Caller ID Lookup API with iOS 18.2. This process involves encrypting the phone number on your device, sending that encrypted data to Truecaller’s server, and then receiving an encrypted response, which is subsequently decrypted on your iPhone.
This framework is specifically designed for apps like Truecaller, enabling the latest version of the iOS app to access and verify against a live database.
This API utilizes cutting-edge homomorphic encryption, and Truecaller is the first globally to implement this on a large scale for Caller ID […] This advancement allows Truecaller’s AI capabilities and extensive global database to maximize call identification. It ensures that no call remains unrecognized on iOS as long as Truecaller holds any data regarding it.
Additionally, the latest update features a long-requested capability for Truecaller iOS users: the automatic blocking of spam calls. Other enhancements include the ability to search through previously identified calls, with a history extending back to 2,000 numbers in the Phone app’s Recents list.
The free version of Truecaller identifies verified businesses, but a subscription is required for complete access. The subscription costs $9.99/month or $74.99/year, and a family plan is also available for $14.99/month or $99/year for up to five members.
The updated version is being rolled out worldwide over the next few days.
To activate the new features, follow these steps:
- Ensure you have Truecaller for iPhone version 14.0 or higher
- Go to iPhone Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification
- Enable all Truecaller toggles and relaunch the Truecaller app
Truecaller’s CEO, Rishit Jhunjhunwala, expressed enthusiasm about enhancing the app’s capabilities on iPhone. He stated, “We are thrilled to fully unleash the power of Truecaller on iPhone. We see immense growth potential in our iPhone user demographic, and matching Truecaller’s Android capabilities has been a significant request. This update achieves that while safeguarding user privacy in all call activities.”
TechCrunch received early access to the new features and reported that it functions well with most calls, although a few may still be missed.
For more information, check out the brief promotional video below.
Image: Truecaller
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