Truecaller has reintroduced call recording for both iOS and Android users who are subscribed to their premium. Although both operating systems pose restrictions that prevent apps from recording calls natively, Truecaller has found a way to get around it by calling a dedicated recording line.
On Android, users can use Truecaller’s dialer to directly start recording a call. If they are using another dialer, Truecaller will display a floating recording button if they are using another dialer.
However, for iOS users, the process is a little more complicated. Users will need to call a recording line through the Truecaller app and merge the calls for both incoming and outgoing calls. According to the Truecaller, the other person on the call will hear a beep to signify that the call is being recorded.
Notably, Truecaller started recording calls for premium Android customers in 2018 and expanded its reach to all Android users in 2021. However, Google restricted access to its Accessibility API, which was used by many apps, including Truecaller, to record calls, in 2022. As a result, the feature had to be removed from the company’s apps.
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In addition, to call recording, they stated that it will provide consumers with transcripts, which it hopes to roll out in the coming weeks. Users will also be able to search through transcripts to quickly find information in recorded conversations.
Raphael Mimoun, the company’s Cloud Telephony Product Director, has stated over the phone that all recordings and transcripts will be retained on the device, and Truecaller will not store any data on the cloud.
Truecaller makes extensive use of technology from CallHero, a startup created by Mimoun that the Swedish company purchased last year.
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Truecaller’s strategy is not novel. RecMycalls and Tapeacall have utilized similar methods to record calls. The Swedish startup claims that its technology breaks new ground by keeping data locally and not collecting any user information.
The Indian publication The Caravan published a report in 2022 saying that Truecaller acquired data from subscribers without their consent. In a subsequent statement, the corporation disputed the charges.
Truecaller has been testing this capability with a small number of iOS users in the United States. Today, they are making it available to all users who have a premium subscription. Truecaller currently offers three options in the United States, with this expansion: a basic ad-free plan ($1 per month), a premium plan with call recording ($3.99 per month), and a top-tier plan with call screening assistant ($4.49 per month).
According to Zarringhalam, the company is cleaning up its subscription tiers and has begun to consider how to offer multiple levels with features that make sense for the consumer at each price point.
Currently, according to the business, Truecaller has over 500,000 users in the United States alone, with 10% of the users on a subscription plan. The company has around 350 million users worldwide, with India having the most users (100 million). The company reported an 18% increase in subscribers year on year in its most recent earnings report. According to these findings, despite an increase in paying users, subscriptions accounted for only about 12% of the company’s revenue, with advertising bringing in the majority of the money.
