iOS tel hyperlink javascript tracking in Google Analytics

Question

I have some js code to record outbound link click events in Google Analytics, which effectively adds a delay to the click event before allowing the normal click behaviour to go through.

This applies to both http as well as tel: links. I trigger a specific "phone number has been clicked" event in GA so we know the user intended to make a call (whether or not they go through with it is a different issue entirely).

The number of events being tracked into GA seems strangely low and with anecdotal testing, many deliberately triggered events don't seem to show up in GA (I.e. I sit on my phone and press the link a few times).

I wonder why this could be.

Does iOS do something weird to immediately halt or bypass my javascript when a `tel:` link is clicked? If not, what could explain the lack of event tracking going on here?

For context, I'm talking about tracking the click event before the call prompt comes up:

matthias.wagner.wy · Accepted Answer · 2019-06-28 10:15:08Z

1

i had the same issue (working with jquery) and found out that it occurs when i tried to recognize the tap with jquery click handler. i found a solution with adding

jquery.on("click touchstart", function(e){...});

now it works fine again on desktop and mobile/touch browsers (tested on newer ios and android devices) and the call-prompt is displayed immediately.

answered Jun 28, 2019 at 10:15

matthias.wagner.wy

193 bronze badges

That's really interesting. We're using Google's GTM built-in "Click - just links" event, which obfuscates the actual event it's binding to. (Can't find any docs, which is infuriating). I wonder if it binds to "click" which never fires as the "click" event only fires after "ontouchend" which doesn't happen if iOS interrupts to show the call dialog. Hmmmmm.
– theyetiman
Commented Jun 28, 2019 at 11:54
i guess this behavior is pretty new on mobile devices, since we usually test such events on desktop and mobile for new properties. we did recognize it first time a few weeks ago. maybe something has changed in ios/android which gtm needs to catch up? although pretty strange that both os would release it nearly at the same time ...
– matthias.wagner.wy
Commented Jun 30, 2019 at 7:07

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iOS tel hyperlink javascript tracking in Google Analytics

Does iOS do something weird to immediately halt or bypass my javascript when a `tel:` link is clicked? If not, what could explain the lack of event tracking going on here?

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Does iOS do something weird to immediately halt or bypass my javascript when a tel: link is clicked? If not, what could explain the lack of event tracking going on here?

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Does iOS do something weird to immediately halt or bypass my javascript when a `tel:` link is clicked? If not, what could explain the lack of event tracking going on here?