If you’re an Android user, chances are you’ve got Truecaller on your phone. It’s a premium caller ID recognition software that brings the power of “the crowd” to your phone.
For those who are unfamiliar with the app, here’s what it does: when an unknown number calls you, Truecaller searches through its millions of registered users (and their contact lists) to find the number that’s calling you.
For a long time, the app wasn’t available with all its features on iOS. iPhone users could only access the Truecaller database; it didn’t offer them real-time caller ID. They had to feed the number manually into the app to search for the caller.
The latest update of the app on iOS moves a step closer to bringing the authentic Truecaller experience to iOS. Real time caller ID is now available on iOS. However, there are a few limitations:
- The caller must also be using Truecaller to be identified.
- It will work for both Android and iOS callers; but, for the latter, the caller must have placed the call through the Truecaller app. Using the stock iOS dialer won’t do.
- A 3G/4G/LTE or a fast wifi is necessary.
Truecaller also says that ‘you need to keep the app running in the background’ for the live feature to work. That’s not a big deal, except that it might affect the battery life. Truecaller duly warns that the app is still a “work in progress”, so we can expect regular updates over the coming months.
Apple’s privacy policy, which is stricter than Android’s, was the main reason the app never worked as well as it should have. Apple is looking to work its way around that in the hopes of opening up their ecosystem.
At AppleSutra, nothing would make us happier. We strongly believe in the coexistence of the two ecosystems and are fans of apps that provide seamless cross-platform compatibility. Here’s to wishing that more such apps make their way into the marketplace!
