Truecaller has announced a significant update for its iOS subscribers, introducing real-time caller ID support in line with Apple’s latest iOS 18 release. Previously, the app relied on a locally saved dictionary of limited phone numbers to provide caller identification on iOS devices. However, with the advent of this update, Truecaller users will enjoy a more seamless experience, as the caller’s name now appears prominently above their number in bold.
This advancement follows Apple's introduction of Live Caller ID Lookup in iOS 18, which allows third-party caller ID apps to securely access server information about the caller. In response, Truecaller has developed a new server architecture and an encrypted database specifically for iOS. This complements the existing larger database used by Android users. The real-time feature can be activated through iPhone Settings under Apps > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification.
Previously, Truecaller's 2023 update to its iOS app offered a live caller ID experience, though it required user interaction with Siri and lacked real-time functionality. Now, the new rollout promises an immediate identification process, enhancing user experience significantly.
Truecaller's premium tier starts at $9.99 a month or $74.99 annually for iOS users, contributing substantially to the company's revenue. Notably, 40% of Truecaller's income comes from iOS subscriptions, with over 2.6 million paying subscribers globally—around 750,000 of whom are on iOS. The company's conversion rate to its premium tier on iOS is five times higher than that on Android, and revenue from iPhone subscribers is 80% greater compared to Android users.
"At the moment, there might be a bit of a delay because these requests get queued up, and the encryption that we do is very time-consuming — and very expensive… But it should not be more than a few hours," – Nakul Kabra
Truecaller's family plan on iOS is available at $14.99 per month or $99.99 annually, while the top-end Gold subscription costs $249 per year. The company continues to innovate by working on incorporating image support within the caller ID for iOS users, providing even more comprehensive identification.
"It did improve the overall call identification. But that wasn’t enough because in countries like India, there is a huge calling activity, and not all this would be available in the offline database," – Nakul Kabra
The company acknowledges some latency in real-time operations due to the encryption processes involved. However, Truecaller assures users that any delays should not exceed a few hours, maintaining a high standard of service quality.
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