Truecaller Call Recording Ends for iPhones After Sept. 30
▼ Summary
– Truecaller is discontinuing its call recording feature on iOS starting September 30 to focus on its core spam-blocking and caller ID services.
– Users can save existing recordings by downloading them, sharing via email/messaging, or switching storage to iCloud before the feature ends.
– The decision was driven by the complexity and cost of iOS call recording, which requires a workaround due to Apple’s restrictions.
– Truecaller introduced call recording for iOS in 2023 to attract premium subscribers, but Apple’s native iOS 18.1 call recording feature made it redundant.
– iOS contributes 44% of Truecaller’s premium revenue, despite Android’s smoother call recording functionality.
Truecaller will no longer support call recording for iPhone users after September 30, marking the end of a feature that launched just over two years ago. The Swedish company confirmed the change, explaining it wants to prioritize its primary services, spam call blocking and Live Caller ID, rather than maintaining a complex workaround for iOS limitations.
Users with existing recordings have options to preserve them before the shutdown. They can download files directly to their devices, share them through messaging platforms, or move storage to iCloud for continued access. Truecaller has published a dedicated support page to guide subscribers through the transition.
The decision stems from technical hurdles unique to Apple’s ecosystem. Unlike Android, iOS restricts third-party apps from recording calls directly. Truecaller’s solution involved routing calls through a separate recording line, a process that proved costly and inefficient. Nakul Kabra, the company’s head of iOS, noted these operational challenges influenced the discontinuation.
Originally introduced in 2023 for premium subscribers, call recording arrived alongside transcription capabilities, initially rolling out in India. While Android users retain the feature, iPhone owners must now rely on alternatives, including Apple’s native call recording and transcription tools introduced in iOS 18.1. These built-in options eliminate the need for workarounds, leveraging Apple Intelligence for smoother functionality.
Despite the change, Truecaller’s premium tier remains popular, with iOS contributing 44% of its global subscription revenue last quarter. Paid users still benefit from real-time caller identification, advanced spam filters, Siri integration, and incognito mode, features designed to justify the upgrade from the app’s free version.
The shift reflects broader industry trends, where companies streamline offerings to focus on core strengths. For Truecaller, that means doubling down on combating unwanted calls rather than maintaining features that clash with platform restrictions.
(Source: TechCrunch)
