Truecaller brings its real-time caller ID and automated spam call blocking to iOS for the first time in a major update.
Truecaller has launched its innovative real-time caller ID and automated blocking of spam calls services for iPhone users, enabled by Apple’s latest iOS 18 updates.
Powered by advanced AI, the tool leverages a global database to improve call identification. It has been available for Android users for 15 years but has become possible on iOS only today. Before that, Truecaller’s use on iPhones was limited to a smaller local database on the user’s local device due to restrictions imposed by Apple’s iOS. These limitations prevented third-party apps from properly accessing and managing call data. However, with iOS 18, the situation has changed.
The company expects this update will substantially increase its addressable market, expanding its target audience not only with other user segments but also with additional geographies with higher iOS penetration.
Initially, iOS users will be offered a free trial of the new service, but after a trial period, premium features will be available only for paying subscribers. Free users on iOS can still leverage ad-supported manual number search and caller ID of Verified Businesses.
Besides automated spam blocking, Truecaller also introduces a Premium Family plan, allowing users to share benefits, including fraud protection and Truecaller AI Assistant.
Another part of the Premium subscription plan is an AI voice detection tool to combat AI voice scams. The AI Call Scanner identifies and differentiates between human and AI-generated voices, warning users in real time if a call is a potential scam. Upon the press of a button, the tool records a sample of the caller’s voice. It is quickly processed by Truecaller’s advanced AI model to detect suspicious or potentially fraudulent AI-based voices which may be made humanlike by voice cloning. The feature is available in Truecaller’s Android app, with an upcoming iOS release.
As deepfake impersonation scams are evolving, so does the protective technology. Besides Truecaller’s solution, there are several other advanced tools on the market or in development. For instance, last year, McAfee presented a technology for detecting audio deepfakes based on artificial intelligence called Project Mockingbird. It uses contextual, behavioural, and categorical identification models. The developers claim that the accuracy rate of this digital product is around 90%.
