A New Apple Patent Could Lead to an iPhone Defense against Spam Calls

Apple currently is trailing the field of spam call prevention.

An iPhone in an user's hand. Apple recently took out a patent for a technology that would better detect and prevent spam calls. (Photo by Wodicka/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
An iPhone in an user's hand. Apple recently took out a patent for a technology that would better detect and prevent spam calls. (Photo by Wodicka/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
ullstein bild via Getty Images

Spam calls have been in the news lately, and Apple has started to respond by taking out a patent on technology that would screen fake calls and warn iPhone users about them. The service the patent describes would analyze a call’s technical data, and then display a warning on the iPhone if the incoming call is of questionable legitimacy.

Given that Apple is simply securing a patent and not introducing immediate technological help, the company continues to lag behind Google in the spam call department. The Google Pixel, which is already proficient at flagging spam, recently introduced a feature that answers potential spam calls for the user and transcribes the call.

What Apple will do with the patent remains to be seen, but it would likely be an improvement on the current system for iPhone users, which has iPhone owners relying on their carriers for spam defense.

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