Truecaller, the popular caller ID app, currently intercepts between 38 and 40 billion spam calls annually for its user base exceeding 374 million. To enhance its premium offerings and attract more subscribers, the company is intensifying its filtering capabilities. The latest “Max” update for Android premium users employs AI technology to automatically block any incoming call not originating from an approved contact or flagged as potential spam, even if the number isn’t in Truecaller’s database. Previously, call blocking relied on database listings and user-initiated screening.
Notably, this update is exclusive to Android due to restrictions imposed by Apple, limiting Truecaller’s ability to automatically block spam calls on iOS. Consequently, iPhone users receive a more basic service centered around CallKit.
These developments are pivotal for Truecaller amidst a challenging business landscape. In the last quarter, the company experienced a 4% year-on-year revenue decline, despite generating $41.52 million in sales. Additionally, in India—Truecaller’s largest market with 259 million users—the telecom regulator proposed a caller ID service akin to Truecaller, potentially posing a direct competitive threat.
The introduction of this new feature reflects Truecaller’s strategic response to the growing frustration with spam calls, albeit at the risk of missing legitimate calls from unknown numbers. Leveraging the allure of AI, Truecaller aims to capitalize on users’ interest in innovative solutions for call management and spam protection.
Truecaller’s premium subscription options, priced between $9.99 per month and $99.99 per year, cater to various user needs and preferences.
Furthermore, this update signifies Truecaller’s shift towards proactive automation, reducing the need for user intervention. By default, the app will now block any suspicious calls, minimizing the user’s involvement in call screening.
The implementation of AI in Truecaller’s features has been a gradual process, with extensive testing and refinement. Multiple machine learning algorithms have been deployed across various markets to identify spam numbers, with continuous learning from user feedback.
However, extending this service to iOS users is contingent upon substantial changes by Apple. Although Truecaller introduced live caller ID support for iOS last year, the functionality remains limited and requires manual setup by iPhone users.
As with any automated system, there may be occasional errors. Truecaller acknowledges the possibility of mistakenly blocking legitimate businesses but assures users of ongoing improvements through data analysis and AI refinement.
Users can easily unblock numbers incorrectly marked as spam, contributing to the AI’s learning process and overall enhancement of the spam-blocking feature.
To access the new spam-blocking functionality, users need to update their Truecaller app to version 13.58 or later and navigate to Settings > Block.
