# Truecaller App Upgrades on iOS: A Transformative Tool for Spam Call Management
In a time when spam and scam calls are increasingly common, the Truecaller app has become a steadfast resource for recognizing and blocking undesired calls. Although Truecaller has been accessible on both Android and iOS devices for some time, its performance on iPhones has traditionally been behind that of its Android version owing to Apple’s strict privacy policies. However, with the release of a new API in iOS 18.2, Truecaller is ready to transform how iPhone users deal with incoming calls.
## Grasping the Constraints of Truecaller on iPhone
On Android gadgets, Truecaller works flawlessly by verifying incoming caller IDs against a vast database of known spam contacts. When a spam call is identified, users are alerted, and the app can even entirely block these calls, stopping them from reaching the user’s device. Unfortunately, due to Apple’s privacy regulations, the iOS variant of Truecaller could not take advantage of this live identification capability. Instead, it depended on intermittently downloading offline databases, which restricted its efficiency in spotting spam calls.
Apple’s privacy guidelines treat incoming phone numbers as personal data, preventing applications like Truecaller from transmitting this information to their servers for immediate assessment. As a result, iPhone users experienced a less effective spam detection system compared to their Android peers.
## The Breakthrough: iOS 18.2 and the Live Caller ID Lookup API
The launch of iOS 18.2 constitutes a notable milestone for Truecaller on iPhones. Apple has introduced a Live Caller ID Lookup API that mitigates privacy issues while enhancing the app’s capabilities. This innovative API utilizes cutting-edge encryption techniques to safeguard user privacy. When an incoming call occurs, the phone number is encrypted and sent to Truecaller’s servers for identification. The server then sends back an encrypted reply, which is decrypted on the user’s device, enabling Truecaller to provide real-time spam identification without compromising user confidentiality.
This pioneering strategy employs advanced homomorphic encryption, establishing Truecaller as the first app to implement this technology at scale for caller identification. With this upgrade, Truecaller can exploit its comprehensive AI functionalities and global database to recognize a wider array of calls, ensuring that no spam call goes unnoticed on iOS devices.
## New Features and Enhancements
Alongside the real-time spam detection, the latest upgrade brings several features that Truecaller iOS users have requested for a long time:
1. **Automatic Blocking of Spam Calls**: Truecaller can now automatically stop recognized spam numbers, offering users a more efficient experience by blocking unwanted calls before they even reach their devices.
2. **Improved Call History Search**: Users can now sift through their call history, retrieving details on previously identified spam calls, with the option to review up to 2,000 recent numbers.
3. **Business Identification**: The free version of the app continues to identify verified businesses, while a paid subscription reveals full capabilities, including enhanced spam detection options.
The subscription model is available for $9.99 per month or $74.99 annually, with a family plan offered at $14.99 per month or $99 per year, accommodating as many as five users.
## How to Activate the New Features
To access the new functionalities in Truecaller, users must ensure they are on version 14.0 or higher. Here’s how to activate the features:
1. Open the iPhone Settings app.
2. Navigate to Apps > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification.
3. Toggle all switches for Truecaller and reopen the app.
## Conclusion
The recent updates to the Truecaller app on iOS represent a significant advancement in the fight against spam calls for iPhone users. With the introduction of the Live Caller ID Lookup API in iOS 18.2, Truecaller can now deliver a service level akin to that of Android, all while respecting user privacy. As spam calls remain a persistent annoyance, Truecaller’s enhancements provide a hopeful solution, allowing users to manage their incoming calls more effectively than ever before.
As Truecaller CEO Rishit Jhunjhunwala expressed, “We are thrilled to unleash the full potential of Truecaller on iPhone,” emphasizing the app’s dedication to enhancing user experience while preserving privacy. With these innovations, iPhone users can anticipate a more secure and streamlined method for handling unwanted calls.
