In the iOS 17 update, significant enhancements have been made to the calling features, with particular focus on improving the Phone and FaceTime applications. Users now have the flexibility to customize the appearance of the caller ID during calls through the Phone app. Furthermore, FaceTime has received new and exciting additions, such as the introduction of video messages, enabling users to send and receive short video clips. Additionally, FaceTime now supports the option to receive incoming calls on Apple TV, providing users with more versatility in their calling experience.
In this article, we shed light on everything new in the Phone and FaceTime applications in the iOS 17 update.
Update to the iOS 17 Beta Version
Before starting, we would like to emphasize that upgrading to the public beta version of iOS 17 is very easy and, according to many users, quite stable. To do this, simply go to your device settings, then General, and then Software Updates. You will find a dedicated section for the beta version; tap on iOS 17, and you'll be able to upgrade your device if it is supported.
Warning: Beta versions still have issues, and reverting to the previous version is not easy. Be sure to make an informed decision.
The Phone App
Contact Stickers
Apple has expanded its customization options in the Messages app, allowing users to select their favorite name and picture to share with others. Now, this personal sharing feature has been extended to the Phone app as well. Users can create a unique contact sticker that will be displayed to others when they receive a call from you.
Contact stickers can be created within the Contacts app by clicking on your name, selecting the contact sticker option, and then editing it.
You can choose to share an image, emoji, or just the initials of your name, and that is what others will see when they receive a call from you. Additionally, you can customize the font size, style, and color to match the image you have chosen. However, keep in mind that changing your name cannot be done from this interface; it must be done separately by updating your contact information.
You can apply different filters to images, including black and white, duotone, and color wash. The color wash effect adds a transparent layer of color to the image, giving it a subtle tint of the chosen color. You can use filters with any color you desire. You can adjust the image crop and customize the contact sticker independently from the image shared in messages.
Contact stickers can be automatically shared with your contacts, or you can choose to share them only with specific connections. This way, you can control who can view your customized images, ensuring they are seen only by those you permit.
The Contacts App
The Contacts app has undergone some changes to accommodate contact stickers. Now, when you tap on a contact, you will notice that the contact's image, emoji, or initials appear prominently on the screen, taking up a much larger portion than before. This applies to all contacts, including those with customized images.
You will be provided with an option for "Contact Image and Sticker" located below the person's name. This option allows you to either update the information automatically whenever the contact changes their profile picture or manually prompt updates by receiving update requests.
Live Voicemail
Live Voicemail is a new feature that converts voicemail messages into text as the person is leaving them. This allows you to quickly read the content of the voicemail without having to listen to the entire message. With this information, you can determine whether the voicemail is urgent or important and decide whether to respond to the call immediately or at a later time. This feature provides a more efficient way to handle voicemail messages and helps prioritize calls that require immediate attention.
The voicemail is displayed directly on your lock screen while the person on the other iPhone is recording it, which may help you avoid missed calls if it turns out that the unknown number is from another important person.
To prevent confusion for users unfamiliar with this feature, Apple's default message for Live Voicemail states that "the person you're calling may respond," leading some callers to believe they are directly contacting the person they called. Thus, this misunderstanding has led to cases where callers wait for iOS 17 users for several minutes, assuming the person with Live Voicemail will respond in real-time. In reality, it is simply a standard voicemail setup.
To avoid such confusion, users can create a custom greeting for their Live Voicemail. By recording a personalized greeting, users can clearly indicate that it is a voicemail system and not a direct call.
Moreover, Live Voicemail can be disabled through Settings -> Phone -> Live Voicemail, allowing users to turn off the feature if they prefer not to use it.
Updated Call Log
In your call log, there is now a small but useful update that indicates whether a missed call resulted in the caller leaving a voicemail. If you miss a call and the person leaves a voicemail, you will see a notification or indicator in the call log. This helps you quickly identify missed calls associated with voicemail messages.
Additionally, with this update, the call log can now accommodate up to 500 contacts instead of 100 in previous versions. Finally, you can now know who called you from days ago.
Updates for Dual SIM Cards
Users who use two SIM cards on their devices, such as some China-specific phones, or a combination of SIM and eSIM, can now set ringtone tones for each SIM card separately, allowing users to easily identify which SIM card is being used for incoming calls.
When you receive a call from an unknown number, you can choose the SIM card you want to use when making a callback. For example, suppose you received a call from an unknown number (not saved in your contacts), and you have both SIM card A and SIM card B in your phone. When you decide to return the call, you will be prompted to select the SIM card you want to use for the call. You can then choose either SIM card A or SIM card B based on your preferences or convenience.
This way, you can determine which number you want to use for callback, giving you more control over your communications.
Additionally, there is an option to sort incoming messages based on the SIM card through which they were received. This feature helps maintain message organization and separation by the SIM card used, making it easier to manage and respond to messages from each number.
This enhances the overall user experience and provides more flexibility in managing communications on a dual SIM device.
FaceTime iOS 17
Voice and Video Messages
When making a FaceTime call to someone who is unable to answer, you have the option to leave a video or voice message, depending on whether you are using FaceTime Video or FaceTime Audio for the call.
For FaceTime Video messages on iOS 17:
◉ After the call is unanswered, you will see an option "Record Video," click on it to create a video message.
◉ You will see a preview of your recorded video, and if you are not satisfied with it, there is an option to re-record.
◉ Once you finish, you can send it.
◉ The video message will be saved in the recipient's FaceTime Missed Calls log.
◉ The recipient can view the video message and choose to call you back.
It is essential to note that there is an option for people to save video messages in their Photos app. Therefore, when sending a video message, you should be aware that the recipient may save the video on their device.
FaceTime Reactions
In iOS 17, Apple introduced reactions to FaceTime, similar to the reactions already available in the Messages app. However, instead of being triggered by specific words as in Messages, these reactions are activated through gestures in FaceTime.
When using specific gestures during a FaceTime call, you will see on-screen effects such as hearts, balloons, claps, fireworks, and more. For example:
◉ Making a heart shape with your hands will trigger a heart emoji effect.
◉ Thumbs-up gesture will activate a cool emoji effect.
◉ Raising both thumbs upwards will play a fireworks effect.
◉ Making a thumbs-down gesture will trigger a disapproval emoji effect.
◉ Showing both thumbs downwards will activate a cloud effect.
◉ Making a "Rock on" 🤘🤘 sign with both hands will result in a laser effect.
These effects fill the FaceTime window, adding fun and interactive elements to video calls.
In addition to gesture-triggered reactions, you can also long-press your picture in FaceTime to access a menu of options. These default reactions are available in FaceTime, and third-party apps can also adopt these effects and integrate them into their features.
FaceTime on Apple TV
You can now use FaceTime on Apple TV. Although there is a new dedicated FaceTime app on tvOS 17, Apple TV itself does not have a camera. Therefore, to use FaceTime on Apple TV, you will need an iPhone or iPad running iOS 17 or iPadOS 17 to act as a camera source.
You have two options to start a FaceTime call on Apple TV. You can either initiate the call directly from Apple TV or start the call on your iPhone or iPad and then transfer it to Apple TV. The experience of using FaceTime on Apple TV is similar to that on iPhone, iPad, or Mac, but with a much larger screen. To capture your video for the call, you must place your iPhone close to the TV, and the person on the other end will be displayed on the TV.
For added convenience, the Center Stage feature is available, ensuring that you stay in the frame while moving during the call. Additionally, you can easily transfer a call from Apple TV to iPhone if you need to move to another room, and vice versa.