iOS 18 brought tons of new features, but what stood out (besides the Apple Intelligence fanfare) was the long-overdue introduction of the voicemail feature in India. I was the most excited about this feature, and have been ever since I have seen people use voicemail in multiple American sitcoms (who can forget Rachael's drunk voicemail to Ross?!). I wanted my iPhone to have this, too, and that time has finally come. The option had resided in the Phone app's corner for a while now, but it was only for the namesake. Now it is a real deal, and I was quite happy to use it finally. However, months later, I feel I should just disable it. Here's why!
iOS' Voicemail Comes to India
iOS 18 finally brought voicemail to India, which excited me for years. With transcription and Live Voicemail for real-time transcription, it promised to change how we handle missed calls. Setting it up is also simple, with options for personalised greetings, perfect for adding a personal touch. So, everything should feel good, right?
The Goodness of Voicemail Meets the Evil of Spam Calls
But what could have been a great addition to the iPhone’s calling experience has been plagued by the spam call epidemic. This is my biggest gripe with the feature I have always wanted.
In India, spam calls are a persistent nuisance, affecting 95% of mobile phone users, with 77% receiving up to four calls daily. Unfortunately, not all spam is caught by Truecaller or similar apps, and these calls often clog voicemail. Identifying and deleting messages becomes tedious, defeating the purpose of a seamless voicemail experience. Disconnecting them is not an option, for these will be directed to the voicemail.
Yes, there have been numerous measures being taken to curb spam calls in India:
- Monitoring the telemarketers: Keeping an eye on telemarketers and ensuring they don't send over 50 messages or calls daily.
- A high tariff proposal: Proposal to impose a high tariff on calls and messages which go beyond the daily limit.
- Blacklisting: Telecom operators can blacklist parties that send spam calls and messages.
However, the problem appears more persistent than ever, possibly because the contractors hired by various companies (mainly from the financial and real estate sectors) use personal numbers.
I now receive close to 6 such calls, going to voicemail and offering me none of the help I expected. And while I excitedly put up my custom greeting, I may turn this off. But there’s still hope!
Why I Am Still Optimistic About iOS 18’s Voicemail Feature
A proper telecom structure, using an AI-based filtration process to restrict spam calls from reaching the voicemail, enhanced DND (Do Not Disturb) services, and better collaboration between TRAI and global players like Truecaller could improve the situation. Airtel and Vodafone Idea already use AI to detect spam; Apple should follow suit to enhance voicemail filtering with a future update. Jio, with its robust network capabilities, could also contribute significantly in this regard.
Despite its challenges, iOS 18’s voicemail feature is a promising and fun step towards easy handling of calls. With advancements in AI and stronger collaboration between tech companies and even telcos, the spam call issue could eventually be curbed. Until then, the feature remains a mixed bag. Do join our social media posts to share your experience with the voicemail feature.
