Truecaller, the popular caller ID app, has finally brought real-time caller ID to iPhone users. This long-awaited feature has been a significant point of differentiation for Android users, and its arrival on iOS marks a crucial step forward for the company.
Leveraging iOS 18
Apple’s introduction of Live Caller ID Lookup in iOS 18 made this feature possible. This new functionality allows third-party caller ID apps to securely query their servers for caller information. This integration was crucial in bridging the gap between the Android and iOS experiences for Truecaller users.
Overcoming iOS Limitations
Before iOS 18, Truecaller was limited in providing real-time caller ID on Apple’s platform. The company relied on a locally saved dictionary of phone numbers, which was inaccurate and limited coverage.
Truecaller relaunched the iOS app in 2022 to concentrate on spam detection. Apple allowed the app to keep a more extensive set of numbers locally.
As Nakul Kabra, Truecaller Product Director, explained, “It 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.”
Building a Robust Solution
Truecaller implemented a new server architecture to enable real-time caller ID and created a separate, encrypted database for iOS users.
Apple’s Phone app makes encrypted requests to this database, and the iPhone receives and decrypts the responses to display caller information.
This process, known as homomorphic encryption, ensures data privacy while enabling real-time lookups.
Addressing Challenges and Optimizing Performance
Kabra acknowledged that initial performance may be delayed due to encryption and data processing demands. “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,” he stated.
Enhanced User Experience
With the new real-time caller ID feature, Truecaller enhances its user experience on iOS. The app displays the caller’s name prominently in bold over their number. Furthermore, Truecaller is actively working on integrating image display for callers within the app.
The introduction of real-time caller ID on iOS marks a significant milestone for Truecaller. By bridging the gap between Android and iOS offerings, Truecaller strengthens its position as a leading caller ID and spam protection player.
With ongoing improvements to its spam detection capabilities and a focus on user experience, this enhancement positions Truecaller for continued growth and success in the mobile ecosystem.
