For its 374 million+ users, Truecaller blocks between 38 billion and 40 billion spam calls annually. With its filtering tech turned up, it hopes to entice more people to sign up for its premium tiers. It has been learned that Truecaller’s latest “Max” update blocks all calls that don’t come from approved contacts or that it determines might be spam, even if they’re not already listed. Previously, blocking and other actions were based on how numbers appeared in that database, along with proactive screening.
The new “Max” update automatically blocks every call Truecaller’s AI flags as potential spam for Android premium subscribers. This is different than before when calls were only blocked if already in the spam database or a user manually screened them.
Truecaller hopes this tougher stance on spam finally convinces more people to pay for its premium service ranging from $10-100 per year. Revenue fell 4% last quarter, so new income sources are needed.
“Max” shows how Truecaller is testing more proactive features to automate blocking spam calls. Less manual effort is now required after the update. Of course, legitimate calls could accidentally be cut off until Truecaller’s AI learns. But users can unblock numbers.
Over time, “Max” should recognize legitimate businesses and keep users safe from spam calls sweeping the globe. If Truecaller can perfect this balance, it just may protect phone lines from pesky spammers for good.
