Truecaller targets WhatsApp, launches its own messaging service
Truecaller, the popular app for identifying unknown callers, is foraying into the messaging arena with a service called 'Truecaller Chat'. The feature, set to be integrated within Truecaller's iOS and Android apps, will enable free text conversations and multimedia sharing between users, while offering a series of tools to particularly tackle the menace of fake news. Here are the details.
Community reports to help Truecaller combat fake news
While WhatsApp and other IMs have strongly vouched against fake news, the issue still persists, leading to major incidents, often violent. This is where the service from Truecaller, which boasts 100 million daily active users, could come in. Essentially, it promises users an option to report fake articles, misinformed blogs, or any other malicious content to help others and keep the platform clean.
Here's what Truecaller's Product VP, Rishit Jhunjhunwala, said at launch
"As a one-stop communication platform, our IM service will help our users connect and also collaborate to combat the issue of spam. We're confident that this foundation stone will help build a strong spam-free community," Truecaller's Product VP, Rishit Jhunjhunwala, said.
And, how Truecaller chat would work?
Though the public version of the feature is still a few weeks away from roll-out, Truecaller has given some details, noting that the service would work pretty much like iMessage. Put simply, when using the feature, Truecaller users would be able to communicate for free, while non-users' messages will be sent as regular SMS - a feature already available in the Truecaller app.
AI and Machine Learning also to be leveraged
As Trucaller's caller-ID and spam message identification services rely heavily on community reporting, the same can be applied to contain fake news. But that's not the only safeguard. Truecaller has also said it is working on plans to introduce Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning-powered tools to further thwart the spread of fake news. That said, the benefits still remain to be seen.
Services converging messaging and payments features
The move by Truecaller follows the introduction of its in-app payments service enabling bill payments and person-to-person transfers. However, it's not the only player converging the two services. WhatsApp, world's biggest messaging service, is making a move towards payments in India, while dedicated payments app Paytm has introduced instant messaging capabilities. Notably, Truecaller Chat is currently available for Android beta users.
