6 New Cutting-edge iPhone Features Are Coming Soon with iOS 17

Apple recently announced a major update coming this fall to iPhones (from the 2nd gen iPhone SE through the iPhone 14s). So Tech Helpline reviewed iOS 17 to find the features that will deliver extraordinary benefits for real estate professionals.

Here are six new iPhone features that could help you better connect with prospects and clients.

1. Promote your brand with a Contact Poster: You will be able to send a custom image to identify you on the screen of the person you are calling. This presents a great opportunity to showcase you and your brand. While it will only be seen on other iPhones and third-party VOIP apps that adopt the standard, it will make calls to other iPhone users stand out. After all, there are 1.36 billion iPhone users worldwide and 136 million in the U.S.

2. Send FaceTime videos or audio messages: 125 million people use FaceTime and Messages daily. The new iOS 17 will allow you to send pre-recorded videos and audio-only messages to other FaceTime users, and they will even be displayed on Apple Watch. If you are calling someone via FaceTime and miss them, you will be able to record and leave a video message. According to Apple, you'll also be able to have a bit of fun with these recordings – as appropriate – including adding text balloons, hearts, fireworks, laser beams, and more. Plus, Apple TV will get a FaceTime feature.

3. Screen incoming voicemails – live: Currently, when you get a call from a number you don't recognize, you might send the caller to voicemail. You then wait until the caller finishes recording their message to discover whether they were a red-hot prospect or a robocall. With the new Live Voicemail feature, you will be able to see a transcript of the caller's message in real-time. Yes, as they speak. Best of all, you can pick up the call while they leave their message and talk to the caller you have identified through the live transcript. This could be a huge time saver and dealmaker tool.

4. Enjoy peace of mind with enhanced safety features: The Check In feature is coming to the iPhone, and it will allow you to designate someone to monitor your trip and confirm all is safe while you travel. Most importantly, Apple says that if the person who checked in is not moving toward their planned destination, the designated contact will be notified. The iPhone will then relay the battery percentage (which would show a possible false alarm if the battery went dead) and other safety data to the trusted contact. Plus, Apple is updating its shared location feature to show others where you are or request a friend's location, all inside the Message app, during your conversation.

5. Use NameDrop via AirDrop: No more apps or attachments will be needed to instantly share contact information with another iPhone or Apple Watch user. AirDrop gets an upgrade with NameDrop to transfer contact info, like specific phone numbers and email addresses, by simply bringing the two devices close to each other. Your Contact Poster image will also be associated with your Contact Card and shared with others when you use NameDrop.

6. Switch between work and personal profiles: With this new feature in Safari, you will be able to keep your browsing separate from work and your personal life. Profiles, Apple says, will separate your history, extensions, cookies, and favorites. It also will allow you to switch between profiles while you are browsing.

These are just a few of the dozens of new enchantments that Apple will be rolling out this fall with its newest operating system, iOS 17.

Other significant improvements include:

• Apple Maps: The ability to save an area of a map for offline use.
• AirPods (Gen 2): An upgrade with Adaptive Audio to greatly enhance its noise canceling capabilities, as well as one button mute and unmute when you are on a call.
• EV station locations: Electric car drivers will appreciate this one, as Apple Maps adds enhanced EV routing.
• Instant Siri activation: Just like saying "Hey Google," Siri catches up by just needing to say "Siri" to activate.
• New Mental Health features: Track your emotions or moods, and connect with mental health resources.
• More robust, more accurate search, autofill, and autocorrect: New filters and improvements to search in Messages and Safari leveraging AI should improve the overall Message experience. Two-step verification will be faster as autofill will offer to complete the code you were just sent to sign in.

According to MacWorld, the new iOS 17 will be available to the public "almost certainly in mid-September," noting sales of the new iPhone 15 will also likely launch around the same time. They guesstimate that the first public beta for iOS 17 will be available next month, in July. You can learn more about the new features coming this fall from Apple here. And once they're available, contact your friendly Tech Helpline team if you have any questions about how to use them.

Other related stories about smartphones:

• 8 Essential Settings to Extend the Battery Life of Your Smartphone
• Text Etiquette: The Do's and Don'ts when Texting
• 5 Things Every Agent Needs to Know About 5G
• Is your smartphone running slower? Here are 4 helpful tips

Tricia Stamper is Director of Technology at Florida Realtors®, which owns and operates Tech Helpline and Form Simplicity.