Bland + iOS 26 Call Screening
Apple’s upcoming iOS 26 update introduces a new feature: built-in AI call screening. When an unknown number calls, iOS will automatically pick up on the user’s behalf, ask who’s calling and why, then present a real-time transcript to the phone owner so they can decide whether to answer.
For some businesses that use legacy dialers, this could be a problem. But for Bland, it’s an extremely easy task.
We’ve already been operating in an environment where similar protections exist. Google Voice, Pixel phones, and certain carrier spam filters already deploy AI-powered screening that requires callers to state their purpose before the call goes through. Bland’s voice AI is fully capable of navigating these systems. It’s designed to treat screening interactions as just another turn in the conversation, which would be no different than a receptionist or automated attendant.
Here’s how it works: When a call hits a screening system, Bland’s AI can detect that it's speaking with an automated screening assistant, not an end-user. Instead of launching the intended conversation, it can deliver a concise, natural explanation of the call’s purpose, something like:
“Hi, I’m reaching out on behalf of Acme Corp with a quick follow-up on a recent quote request.”
This message is transcribed and passed to the recipient by iOS or any other intermediary AI. If the person accepts, the conversation continues. If not, Bland can automatically follow up with an SMS, leave a voicemail, or retry at a better time.
We don’t rely on tricks to bypass screening. And frankly, this change could improve engagement: screened calls with clear intent are far more likely to be answered than anonymous, robotic cold calls. Bland ensures your brand shows up with clarity, context, and professionalism every time.
What Bland Does
Whether you're qualifying leads, following up on quotes, collecting survey responses, scheduling appointments, or providing proactive customer support, Bland can deliver on all of the above use-cases without requiring human reps on the line.
Every call, sms, or web-chat agent can be built to mirror your brand’s tone. You can customize the personality, script structure, fallback logic, and even escalation rules to match your exact workflow.
Bland integrates easily with CRMs, ticketing systems, and internal databases. You can build agents that look up past orders, check on account status, or route qualified leads to live sales in real time.
And everything is tracked, call transcripts, metadata, outcomes, opt-ins, all accessible through our platform and API endpoints so your team can learn and optimize over time.
We’re extremely excited to see the transformation in calling as a result of AI, and we’re already helping companies lead the change. If you’re interested in using Bland for your business, head to our sign-up page to speak with a Bland team-member.
