Popular caller ID app Truecaller has finally bridged the feature gap between its Android and iOS versions, rolling out an update that brings real-time caller ID support to its iOS subscribers. This development marks a significant milestone for the company, which has long been criticized for not offering this feature to iPhone users.

The update was made possible by Apple's introduction of Live Caller ID Lookup in iOS 18, allowing third-party caller ID apps like Truecaller to securely make a call to their server to get information about the caller. This move is particularly significant, as it highlights Apple's willingness to open up its ecosystem to third-party developers, enabling them to create more robust and feature-rich apps.

Truecaller's real-time caller ID feature is a game-changer for iPhone users, who previously had to rely on a locally saved dictionary of limited phone numbers. The company has built a new server architecture and created a separate, encrypted database for iOS, alongside its existing larger database for Android users. Apple's Phone app makes encrypted requests to this database and gets encrypted responses that are only decrypted on the client (iPhone) to show the caller ID in real-time, using a process called "homomorphic encryption."

The implications of this update are far-reaching, particularly for Truecaller's business model. With over 2.6 million paying subscribers, of which around 750,000 are on iOS, the company stands to benefit significantly from the increased adoption of its premium tier on iOS. Notably, 40% of Truecaller's revenue comes from iOS subscriptions, and the company sees a 5X conversion rate to its premium tier on iOS compared to Android, with 80% higher revenue from an iPhone subscriber.

In an interview with TechCrunch, Truecaller Product Director Nakul Kabra explained that the company had to overcome significant technical hurdles to enable the new feature. "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," Kabra said. Truecaller also had to contend with the arrival of a service, Calling Name Presentation (CNAP), designed to curb spam, which could eventually emerge as a competitor to Truecaller.

Truecaller's iOS app has undergone significant updates in recent years, including a relaunch in 2022 to focus on better spam detection, thanks to Apple allowing the app to store a larger set of numbers locally. In 2023, the company updated its iOS app with a live caller ID experience, but that involved a step requiring interaction with Siri and wasn't real-time.

TechCrunch tested the live caller ID feature under Truecaller's beta program and found that it provides caller information in real-time in most cases, although it sometimes misses. The feature can be enabled through iPhone Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification. Truecaller's premium tier on iOS starts at $9.99 a month, per individual, or $74.99/year, with a family plan starting at $14.99/month or $99.99/year and a top-end Gold subscription at $249 a year.

Looking ahead, Truecaller is working on support for images to show up in the caller ID for its iOS users. The company's continued focus on developing its iOS app is a testament to the importance of the iPhone to its bottom line. As the caller ID landscape continues to evolve, Truecaller's ability to adapt and innovate will be crucial to its success.