Truecaller 12 debuts for Android users with video caller ID

Truecaller on Thursday released version 12 of its Caller ID app with a list of new features. The biggest addition is the advent of Video Caller ID which allows users to set up a short video that plays automatically when they call their friends and family.

Truecaller 12 also comes with a redesigned interface that brings separate tabs for calls and SMS messages. Truecaller has also integrated call recording feature to record incoming and outgoing calls. The updated Truecaller also brings phantom calls and call announcement features for paid users.

With Video Caller ID, you can set up a short video that will play automatically when your phonebook contacts are called. You can either record video for Caller ID or choose from four preloaded templates. You’ll also see video caller ID from contacts in your phonebook and verified business calls.

You can manage your Video Caller ID and do you want to get Video Caller ID from companies and contacts by going to Settings > Caller ID from the latest Truecaller app. Notably, the video you set as Caller ID will be stored in the Truecaller cloud.

The updated Truecaller app also brings a streamlined interface where you will have separate tabs for calls and SMS messages. This is different from the existing interface where you have a home shortcut to access calls and Truecaller for SMS.

With a separate tab, you can now access all your text messages, Truecaller group chats and live chats with just one click, the Swedish company said in a press release.

Truecaller also said that Truecaller has more than 15 million users for SMS.

The new Truecaller update also brings call recording, which was first introduced for premium users and was recently released for beta testing. It is now available for all Truecaller users, including paid and free users, who have a phone running Android 5.1 or later.

Calls recorded using Truecaller are stored locally in the device’s storage and can be shared with others using email or any messaging service. The call recording function is optional and must be activated manually from the latest Truecaller app. Additionally, users can record voice calls from the app’s full screen or from the pop-up Caller ID interface.

Truecaller also said in its statement that callers will not be prompted to receive information whether their calls have been recorded using the app or not.

In addition to new features for all users, Truecaller has further enhanced the user experience for its paid subscribers by providing phantom calls and call announcement features. Ghost Call allows users to pretend to receive calls from their contacts.

You can set any name, number, or picture as if you had received a call from that person using the Phantom Call feature. You can also select a contact from your phonebook that you want to appear as the caller on your phone. Additionally, you can schedule a ghost call to appear on your phone later.

Truecaller says that the ghost call feature is meant to help people get out of difficult situations and play harmless pranks with their friends.

Another feature for paid Truecaller users is the Call Announcement feature which will allow the app to aloud the caller ID for incoming phone calls. This will work for both saved contacts and numbers identified by Truecaller’s caller ID database. The functionality will also be available for normal voice calls and Truecaller ID. Users can also activate call announcement by putting on headphones.

Notably, both Ghost Call and Call Announcement will be available exclusively for Premium and Gold users. Whereas Truecaller Premium is available for Rs. 529 per annum or Rs. 179 For three months, the Gold membership is at Rs. 2,500 per year.

Truecaller said the new features will be rolled out gradually to all Android users in India over the coming weeks and soon in several other countries. Some features are already available in beta. However, it is not clear when we might see them on the iOS version of Truecaller.

Earlier this week, Truecaller revealed that it has 300 million monthly active users globally, of which 73% are in India alone.