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Release notes

Premium Answering Machine Detection now detects iOS Call Screening

18, May 2026

Premium Answering Machine Detection (AMD) now detects iOS Call Screening, including iOS Live Voicemail, in real time during outbound calls. The new signal helps outbound dialers and Voice AI agents identify when a call has entered a screening flow, so they can decide whether to keep going, retry later, or wait until a human is actually on the line.

What's new

  • iOS Call Screening detection: Premium AMD can identify when an outbound call reaches an iOS screening flow, including iOS Live Voicemail.
  • Real-time detection: Screening behavior is detected while the call is active, so your application can react during the call flow.
  • Programmable Voice API support: Enable the detection through Voice API call control by setting answering_machine_detection to premium.
  • Better routing decisions: Use the Premium AMD result to decide whether to continue, retry, leave the call flow, or connect an agent only when a human answers.

Why it matters

Outbound calls increasingly land in screening flows instead of going straight to a person or a traditional voicemail greeting. iOS Live Voicemail, carrier spam filtering, and on-device screening all change what happens after answer. The call may be connected and audio may be flowing, but a human may not be listening yet.

Premium AMD gives developers a real-time signal for this screened-call state. That helps teams reduce wasted agent time, avoid unnecessary Voice AI runtime, and build outbound workflows that match how people answer calls today.

Example use cases

  • Voice AI agents that should only start a live conversation after a human answers.
  • Outbound dialers that need to retry screened calls instead of routing them to agents.
  • Sales and support workflows that need to distinguish live pickup, voicemail, and modern call screening behavior.

Getting started

  1. Log in to the Telnyx Mission Control Portal and obtain your API key.
  2. Configure Voice API for outbound calls.
  3. Set answering_machine_detection to premium in your call control commands.
  4. Place a test call and validate the Premium AMD webhook result.

Learn more in the Answering Machine Detection documentation.