Truecaller, the popular caller ID and spam detection app, has released a new feature for iPhone users that allows them to access live caller ID support through Siri. This function, as the name implies, reveals to the user, the identity of the caller on the screen. This might sound weird to Android users because revealing caller ID is part of Truecaller’s core features on Android. On Android phones, if users receive an unknown call from someone, Truecaller displays the caller’s identity on the calling screen immediately. However, Things function differently on an iPhone. Revealing caller ID is an entirely new feature for Truecaller iPhone users. When getting a call from an unknown number on an iOS device, users must activate Siri to learn the caller ID. They must say, ‘Hey Siri, Search Truecaller,’ and Siri will display the user’s live caller ID.
The Live Caller ID is a premium feature on the Truecaller app and The new caller ID feature will be offered only to users who are on the app’s premium tiers (priced at a range of tiers ranging from $0.99 per month per individual, through to $4.99/month when a user’s carrier is not supported and $9.99/month for family plans, with discounts on annual subscriptions). iPhone users will need to buy a premium subscription to use this feature.
The app has become one of the most popular among smartphone users. Nonetheless, the company has previously been criticized for the manner in which it obtains data for its caller ID service.
Last year, an investigation by Indian magazine The Caravan claimed that Truecaller was “comprised of details which have been collected without consent.” However, The Swedish firm, on the other hand, denied the allegations and asserted that the investigation was flawed and based on inaccurate information.
According to a TechCrunch report, Nakul Kabra, Truecaller’s product director for iOS, the app has had limited experience with iOS devices due to how Apple works with external third-party caller ID apps.
To use this feature, Truecaller subscribers running iOS 16 or higher can simply say “Hey Siri, Search Truecaller” to initiate a search for the number appearing on the screen. Siri will then display the results for the user, thanks to the integration of Apple’s Siri Shortcuts and App Intents.
To activate the feature, users must enable the Search Truecaller shortcut on their iPhone by tapping the “Add to Siri” option in the Premium tab. Upon running the shortcut for the first time, they will be prompted to grant Truecaller permission to search screenshots captured by the shortcut.
Users with more recent iPhones, including the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, will have the option to access the feature without having to call out the Siri phrase and instead will be able to tap the back of their handset. For this, they need to enable the Search Truecaller shortcut from the Back Tap gesture settings.
“We have been tinkering around with App Intents for the last few months since iOS 16 was publicly launched… Previous iterations didn’t have the right experience to be used in the context of a live call. One of the more recent iterations is what has evolved into this feature,” Kabra said.
In addition to this new feature, Truecaller has doubled the size of its CallKit directory and improved its spam detection algorithm. According to the company, these updates will ensure that spam, scam, and fraud calls are recognized more accurately. Premium users will also receive daily updates to their spam lists, while free users will only have the option to update their lists manually.
“This improved directory makes sure that most top spam and verified business calls can be identified right away even without needing to ask Siri. However, given the limitations of the platform, we cannot identify all calls using the traditional call directories mechanism. This is where the new Live Caller ID comes in and makes sure that you can identify every single call,” Kabra said.
Truecaller has also introduced a commenting feature for iPhone users, allowing them to read and contribute feedback on spam calls. This feature was previously only available on Android. Truecaller’s Director of Product, Rishit Jhunjhunwala, said the commenting feature was added to “empower our community to share knowledge and help each other stay safe from unwanted calls.”
