Live data from Hacker News

TrueCaller built a billion-dollar caller ID data empire in India

restofworld.org

131–137 of 137 posts

Re: TrueCaller built a billion-dollar caller ID data empire in India

#131

I believe, Truecaller is an auto opt-in and you have to manually opt out if you want your number not be listed. I had to "unlist" my number manually. Check if your number is already in and then unlist at https://www.truecaller.com/unlisting

There is no such thing as unlisting a number, atleast last time we tried multiple times but it still keeps showing up

I have tried this for both of my numbers and it has worked quite well. May be you need to try it one more time?

Re: TrueCaller built a billion-dollar caller ID data empire in India

#132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Coincidentally, the US is also down to 3 mobile networks. I wonder what the percentiles is for number of networks in populous and large countries. Perhaps 3 networks is the number of maximum economically viable long term networks due to the enormously high cost of installing all the fiber and cell station infrastructure across the country.

Don't forget the carrier locking in the US, and the "Verizon phones" / "global phones" vs "ATT phones" with different LTE bands.

[deleted]

Re: TrueCaller built a billion-dollar caller ID data empire in India

#134
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

India has a huge problem with spam / robo callers. Also its common for individuals to have more than 1 phone number, see how popular dual sim phones are. Also true caller adds security when you're from an under represented or a minority groups. I especially know women who use Truecaller to make sure they know who is calling / texting them from new numbers.

> see how popular dual sim phones are Having multiple SIMs in India will go away, or at least become something only the rich have, it's only a matter of time. This is because having that second SIM is no longer cost-free. Multiple SIMs in India were a side-effect of it being near-free to have a prepaid SIM to receive calls. This was subsidized by high calling charges (calling from one part of India to another was exp…

> Then Jio entered the market

If I am not mistaken some shell company bought the spectrum then Jio bought the shell company.

Re: TrueCaller built a billion-dollar caller ID data empire in India

#135
post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You’re playing coy, India is a source of a huge number of the worlds phone scams. With Brazil being the “most spammed.” As a slightly related caveat, with how frustrating the scammers are for me in the Us I can only imagine Brazil. Their phones must ring 24/7.

And do you think Truecaller has anything to do with that?

Probably not. But their job is to keep track of all of this, they’ve clearly made a healthy premium, so I do believe they have a part in both not preventing it at this time and helping to prevent some of it going forward. Not sure what that entails but I get a dozen calls a day and need someone to yell at.

Re: TrueCaller built a billion-dollar caller ID data empire in India

#136
post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> India has a huge problem with spam / robo callers That's everywhere, not just India.

You’re playing coy, India is a source of a huge number of the worlds phone scams. With Brazil being the “most spammed.” As a slightly related caveat, with how frustrating the scammers are for me in the Us I can only imagine Brazil. Their phones must ring 24/7.

Yes, but aren't we talking about which country is the target of the scams, not the source?

Re: TrueCaller built a billion-dollar caller ID data empire in India

#137
post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not that someone cares, but in the EU she would be responsible for violating the GDPR. Many people don't know that they are responsible as private citizens.

Only true if she violates a national law. GDPR itself does not apply to private citizens.

GDPR does apply to private citizens. It does not apply to private citizens doing private things only eg with their phone.
Post reply on HN