iOS 17: the 3 major new features of the Phone app

With iOS 17, you can customize the image that displays on your caller's iPhone when you call them
An option also allows you to copy your voice, if you cannot speak (accessibility)
Finally, voice messages are transcribed into text form, live, when your answering machine goes off

Apple presented several new features for its native Phone app during theWWDC. However, you will have to wait a little to benefit from the final version, because these changes are available with iOS 17, the new version of Apple's mobile operating system. The platform is only accessible in beta for the moment.

Some of the new Phone features will also not be available for all iPhones. To see more clearly, here are the 3 announcements in question.

1 – More customization

For starters, Apple now offers iOS 17 users the ability to customize the image that displays when their contacts receive a call from them. It is possible to choose a portrait, a selfie or a Memoji. The font of the first and last name is also customizable. The result is rather striking. Judge for yourself below:

Note: thisContact Poster is also the one displayed when sharing contact details viaNameDrop.

2 – The answering machine is improving

With this, iOS 17 now shows atranscription of voice messages in text formleft by a correspondent when you do not want to pick up. And if, despite everything, you end up changing your mind, you can take the call by touching the associated icon. Of course, this feature is limited to iPhone users: if someone calls you from a landline or an Android mobile, for example, you will not be able to take advantage of it.

This new feature is currently only available in English, for Canada and the United States. We do not yet know if France will be entitled to it soon, but it is likely, within a few months perhaps. Furthermore, you should know that telephone numbers which are considered spam by your operator's database will not be eligible forLive Voicemail(this is the name of this option in the language of Shakespeare, not yet translated here).

3 – iPhone copies your voice

Finally, let's also mention the case of something new in terms of accessibility. This allows you, by recording your voice for a few minutes, to create a language model copying it. A useful solution for patients who lose their voice, and which will therefore be compatible with the Phone app when iOS 17 arrives in September.

Only a few iPhones are eligible forPersonal Voice. Here they are: