Motti Peer
Over the last decade, the surge in spam and scam calls has contributed to the overall decline in the use of landlines. A study by UK telecommunications provider Uswitch found that one in four aged between 18 and 34 never answer their phones, with 63 percent sharing that this is due to worries around spam or scam calls.
While Android introduced features to protect users from spam calls, iPhone users were initially not granted the same level of protection, leaving them more vulnerable to fraudulent calls. However, with the release of iOS 18, Apple’s Live Caller ID Lookup framework has changed this.
As a result, Sync.me, a social phonebook platform aimed at improving caller experiences, has announced the release of its app, Livecaller. The launch of the app marks the first time iOS 18 users can access a free caller identification app designed specifically for iPhone users. Since 2011, Sync.me has been operating globally, helping Android users block spam and unwanted calls. Over the years, it has built a user base of over 50 million people worldwide, with a database containing 4 billion phone numbers.
Through Apple’s Live Caller ID Lookup framework, the Livecaller app automatically identifies and flags spam and scam calls after cross-referencing the caller number against the company’s extended database of phone numbers. If the software detects that the number is spam, it will use labels to identify the caller, appearing on the iPhone’s home screen.
Ken Vinner, CEO and Co-Founder of SyncMe, shares: “We’re excited to help iPhone users restore the trust they may have lost due to the surge in spam and telemarketing calls.”
The Livecaller app also protects users’ privacy by leveraging encrypted technology to safeguard user data. When an iPhone user receives a call, the number is automatically encrypted to a coded format to ensure it cannot be read directly. The encrypted number is then matched against Livecaller’s database of verified numbers, and once verified, the result is returned to the iPhone, maintaining confidentiality while providing instant caller identification.
Livecaller is created based on the newest technology of iOS 18, therefore, the app can operate natively without requiring additional permission or having to keep the app open to function. In the past, iPhone users needed to block unwanted numbers manually, but the Livecaller app eliminates this need by automatically reporting or blocking unknown callers.
Vinner adds: “As leaders in the caller ID and spam prevention space, we’re happy to bring Livecaller to iPhone users for the first time, offering the most effective protection available, free of charge. This marks a major milestone in providing accessible tools to help users manage unwanted calls, and we’re thrilled to offer this enhanced protection to iPhone users for the first time.”
Sync.Me’s app also ensures that user data is secure, as the app is explicitly designed so Livecaller cannot access users’ information. The app is available here to users starting May 6th in 28 languages.
By harnessing the power of advanced technology, caller identification and enhanced user protection become an integral part of the phone experience, allowing users to communicate without the constant worry of falling victim to scams. As spam and scam calls become more enhanced, especially with the rise of AI, third-party applications become essential to enhancing security, giving users more confidence and control over who they are interacting with, no matter who is calling.