iOS 17 Announced with New Features for FaceTime, Phone, Messages, & More

Apple has announced iOS 17, the next major system software release for iPhone.

The new operating system for iPhone includes some significant new features for the FaceTime app, Phone app, Messages app, AirDrop, Photos, and more.

For Phone app, a new Contact Posters feature allows users to customize how they appear on incoming calls, including choosing custom photos, typography, or memoji to represent themselves. The Phone app has also gained a new Live Voicemail feature that puts a real-time transcription of a voicemail message, and allowing you to answer that call during that real-time transcription.

For FaceTime, a new FaceTime video message feature has been developed, allowing users to leave video messages if a user does not answer a FaceTime call. FaceTime also comes to Apple TV, by using the iPhone camera.

The Messages app has gained new Live Stickers features, and a new check-in feature that allows you to notify family or friends if they’ve arrived at a destination safely.

AirDrop has also received updates and new features, allowing users to easily exchange contact information with one another simply by bringing their phones near to one another with a feature called NameDrop.

A new StandBy feature allows the iPhone to offer glanceable information like a clock, photos, or widgets, while the iPhone is turned horizontally and charging, sort of like the Nightstand mode feature of Apple Watch.

A new Journal app allows users to keep a personalized journal that includes photos, notes, workouts, moods, and much more.

iOS 17 will be available as a beta to developers today, to public beta testers in July, and to all iPhone users in the fall.

iOS 17 requires an iPhone XS or newer.