Truecaller, the renowned caller identification service, has finally introduced real-time caller ID for iPhone users, bridging a long-standing feature gap with its Android counterpart. This significant upgrade, facilitated by Apple’s release of iOS 18 and its Live Caller ID Lookup feature, marks a strategic move by Truecaller to enhance user experience and capitalize on the lucrative iOS market.
The update is particularly noteworthy as it coincides with a major organizational shift within Truecaller, following the step back of co-founders Alan Mamedi and Nami Zarringhalam from daily operations in late 2024. This development underscores the company’s ongoing commitment to innovation and user-centric enhancements.
The Strategic Importance of iOS for Truecaller
Despite Truecaller having over 2.6 million paying subscribers, only about 750,000 are iPhone users. However, these users contribute disproportionately to the company’s revenue, accounting for 40% of its Premium revenue stream. This discrepancy highlights the premium that iPhone users place on quality app experiences, with Truecaller’s iOS segment boasting an 80% higher revenue per user compared to Android.
Truecaller’s focus on iOS is not new. In 2022, the company overhauled its iOS application to improve spam detection capabilities, a move that was made possible by Apple’s policy allowing more extensive local data storage. Although these changes were significant, Truecaller Product Director Nakul Kabra acknowledged in a TechCrunch interview that these enhancements were not sufficient in high-activity calling regions like India.
The Technical Edge: Innovating Beyond Platform Limitations
The real-time caller ID feature on iOS became feasible with Apple’s introduction of Live Caller ID Lookup in iOS 18. This function allows apps like Truecaller to perform secure, encrypted requests to their servers to fetch caller information instantly. Truecaller has developed a unique server architecture for iOS, ensuring that data privacy and security are maintained through homomorphic encryption—a method that processes data without decrypting it, minimizing the risk of data breaches.
Kabra shared that integrating this feature involved significant challenges, particularly due to the encryption’s complexity and cost. Despite potential delays in data syncing between their extensive Android and new iOS databases, the company has ensured that the feature provides accurate caller identification in real time, a claim supported by recent tests under Truecaller’s beta program.
What’s Next for Truecaller on iOS?
Looking forward, Truecaller is not only enhancing the visual appeal of its caller ID feature by introducing support for images but also ensuring that users can enjoy seamless integration across iPhone settings. iPhone users can activate the Live Caller ID Lookup feature via their device settings, ensuring that Truecaller continues to deliver a user-friendly experience.
This update could not only improve user satisfaction but also position Truecaller more favorably against emerging competitors like the Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) service, currently being rolled out by Indian telecoms to tackle the issue of spam calls—a persistent challenge in one of Truecaller’s key markets.
Truecaller’s latest update is a significant stride towards parity between its Android and iOS offerings, promising not only to enhance the user experience but also to solidify its financial standing through increased subscription revenues. With this strategic move, Truecaller is set to continue its dominance in the caller identification market, providing invaluable service in the age of mobile communication.
