{
  "id": 15495982,
  "title": "Apple keeps making the Phone app better; here’s how",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/apple-keeps-making-the-phone-app-better-heres-how",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-18T21:19:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "9to5Mac",
    "slug": "9to5mac",
    "url": "https://9to5mac.com/2026/10/18/apple-keeps-making-the-phone-app-better-heres-how/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Apple continues to enhance the functionality of its Phone app, introducing several new features in recent iOS updates. In iOS 26, two features were added: Hold Assist and Call Screening. Hold Assist automatically detects when a call is placed on hold and notifies the user when the caller returns. This is enabled through the Settings app under Apps, then Phone, where the \"Hold Assist Detection\" toggle can be turned on. Call Screening, another iOS 26 addition, asks for additional information from callers with unsaved numbers before the iPhone rings. This feature can be found in the same Settings menu under Apps, Phone. Call Context, a feature coming with iOS 27, proactively provides relevant information during phone calls with businesses. For instance, it can display a confirmation code from an email when changing a flight or show the order number and details related to a recent purchase. This Apple Intelligence feature is currently available on iPhone 15 Pro and later models, and iOS 27 is expected to be released to the public in September.",
  "summary": "9to5Mac is brought to you by Tello Mobile. Switching to Tello Mobile can bring the cost of your plan down to as little as $5 a month, or an unlimited plan for just $25 a month, all on America’s largest 5G network. See all of the available plans at tello.com . You might not think about it often, but the Phone app on your iPhone keeps getting more powerful. Here are two features you can use today,…",
  "key_points": [
    "Hold Assist feature added in iOS 26 to notify users when a call returns to the line.",
    "Call Screening feature introduced in iOS 26 to verify calls from unknown numbers.",
    "Call Context feature coming in iOS 27 to provide relevant information during business calls."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}