Truecaller, a popular caller identification app, plans to make its service available over WhatsApp and other messaging apps in a bid to help users detect potential spam calls over the internet. The feature, which is currently in the beta phase, will be launched globally later in May, according to Truecaller CEO Alan Mamedi.
In countries like India, telemarketing and scamming calls have surged in recent years. In fact, Indian users receive about 17 spam calls per month on average, according to a report by Truecaller. To combat this, India’s telecom regulator has directed carriers to start blocking telemarketing calls using artificial intelligence filters. Truecaller is also in discussions with telecom operators to implement a solution to help curb this growing problem.
Truecaller has reported a recent spike in user reports from India regarding spam calls over WhatsApp. With WhatsApp being the most popular messaging platform in the country, it is now also a target for telemarketers using internet calling, a fairly new practice in the market. India is Truecaller’s biggest market, with 250 million users out of its 350 million global users. The company generates revenue from advertising, subscription services, and verified listings from businesses.
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