If you’ve found yourself struggling to remember the finer details of an important conversation you had over the phone, you’ve probably wished you had recorded the call.
Whether for personal recall, compliance adherence, or business analysis, call recording offers a greater degree of oversight and accessibility to our conversations.
In fact, the soaring popularity of voice notes for communicating via WhatsApp, Telegram and other IM apps implies that people do feel audio recordings aren’t just capturing words; it’s about immortalizing context, emotion, and the very essence of our exchanges.
As we navigate the digital age, embracing tools like call recording can mean the difference between being overwhelmed by communication or mastering it.
Businesses get to do it for training and quality assurance, among other purposes. So why shouldn’t you be able to save recorded conversations for later use?
Apple and Google frown upon call recording due to user privacy concerns and government regulations. The iPhone and stock Android smartphones do not have any form of native call recording.
In 2022, Google limited access to its Accessibility API that some apps used to record phone calls. A few brands like Samsung, which layer their own software on top of Android, do offer in-built call recording though.
How to Record Calls on iPhone and Android
When it comes to iOS, if you think you can put your iPhone on loudspeaker during a call and hit the Voice Memos feature to record the conversation, tough luck. You will get a pop-up asking you to first end the call.
What you can do instead is download an app to record phone calls from the official Apple App Store. Another option is to use Google Voice which assigns you a number and provides voicemail as well as call forwarding services. Unfortunately, you can only record incoming calls (and not outgoing calls) on your iPhone with this second method. Do note that the person on the other end is notified that the phone call is being recorded.
Whether you’re on Android or iOS, you could put a call on loudspeaker mode and record it using a suitable device with an audio recording function.
If you have a Samsung phone, you can tap the three-dot menu on the upper right side to access the recording function when you’re on a call. You can also go into the Call settings to enable automatic call recording by clicking on the Phone icon, tapping the three-dot menu and then, Settings.
Android users without a Samsung device can download the Google Phone app which can be set to always record calls from unknown numbers or from selected contacts. It also lets you record an individual call. However, this feature is not available for Pixel phones.
Of course, since Google will want to stay out of potential lawsuits, the other party is always notified when you’re recording a call. And the recording function may or may not be available, depending on your device manufacturer, carrier and region.
Another option is to download some other app from the Google Play Store that either replaces your dialer and offers call recording, or is built specifically to record calls only.
Applications like Zoom and Google Meet also allow you to record virtual meetings (with the latter enabling this feature only on PC) for later use.
Audio Recording vs Email
While email and instant messaging are effective means of communication, they may not always replace the immediacy and nuance of a voice call. Here’s why call recording could be more advantageous in comparison:
- Real-Time Clarification: During a phone call, you can seek immediate clarification on any unclear points. This immediate back-and-forth may be less efficient in an email or text conversation, where there might be delays in response.
- Tonality: Voice calls capture tonality and inflection, which can provide important context that’s often lost in written communication. These auditory cues can help you better understand the enthusiasm, concern, or seriousness of the other party.
- Convenience: Some discussions may be lengthy or complex, making them cumbersome to type out. A voice call, especially for intricate or comprehensive planning, can be a more convenient method of communication.
- Record of Verbal Agreements: A recorded call can serve as a reference for any verbal agreements made during the conversation. This could be particularly useful in discussions around services, prices, or timelines.
- Comprehensive Understanding: The combination of real-time discussion, tonal understanding, convenience, and a recorded verbal agreement can lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the entire conversation.
Benefits of Recording Calls for Personal & Business Use
- Quality Control and Training: Businesses can use recorded calls for quality assurance, ensuring that their customer service representatives adhere to the company’s standards of interaction. Good examples of customer interactions can be used for training new employees and areas for improvement can be identified for targeted training.
- Dispute Resolution: Recorded calls serve as a factual record of what was said and agreed upon during a conversation. In case of misunderstandings or disputes with customers, these recordings could help resolve conflicts effectively.
- Compliance and Legal Protection: In certain industries, businesses are required by law to maintain records of their communication with customers. Apart from fulfilling regulatory requirements, they offer a layer of legal protection.
- Customer Insights and Personalization: Recorded calls can offer valuable insights into customer behavior, preferences, and pain points. These insights can be used to tailor marketing strategies, enhance product development, and improve overall customer service. They allow businesses to provide a more personalized and satisfying customer experience.
- Enhanced Memory Recall: For personal use, one key benefit is the ability to review complex or detailed conversations, ensuring no critical information is forgotten or misunderstood. For example, suppose you are planning an extensive road trip across several states. The trip involves intricate details about routes, motels, points of interest, and emergency contacts. By recording the planning discussion with your travel partner or advisor, you can revisit the conversation later to ensure you’ve captured all the necessary details, making your trip smooth and enjoyable. This recorded discussion also allows for easy sharing of plans with other participants or family members, ensuring everyone has the required information.
Why Can’t We Record Mobile Phone Calls?
It’s actually a myth that you cannot record mobile phone calls at all. According to US federal law, you can legally record a conversation that you’re participating in. That’s one-party consent.
BUT federal and state laws differ. So depending on where you live, you may still need to notify the person/s on the other end of the line that they’re being recorded. It may be referred to as “two-party consent”, but it actually requires you to inform all the parties involved.
As of 2023, 15 states in the US appear to need all-party consent for recording a phone call. The regulations covering this function may be wildly different in other parts of the world. Do a thorough internet search to make sure you’re not flouting any laws when recording a call, if you’re an individual.
At any rate, it’s good practice to notify the other person that they’re being recorded and the reason behind it. If you’re a business, you stand to lose big in case of potential lawsuits. Always consult a professional to have all the bases covered, whether you’re using call recording services internally and/or externally.
