In recent times, scam calls have emerged as a pervasive threat, prompting Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to issue warnings against answering calls from unfamiliar numbers. According to a survey conducted by McAfee, a staggering 48% of Indians have fallen victim to AI call scams, suffering individual losses exceeding Rs 50,000. In response to this growing concern, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has initiated efforts to implement a caller identification system. Concurrently, private entities are stepping up to assist users in identifying and avoiding fraudulent and spam calls.
One such initiative comes from Jaipur-based startup Naam, which has developed a Made-in-India app leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to flag suspicious numbers. With a database encompassing over 500 million phone numbers, Naam employs AI algorithms to identify potential scammers and spammers. Founded in 2023 by Arpit Tak, a seasoned professional in the telecom industry, and his college friend and serial entrepreneur Ramesh Chaudhary, Naam aims to offer a homegrown alternative to Truecaller, the Swedish software giant dominating the caller identification market.
Arpit Tak, co-founder of Naam, underscores the fundamental principle of their solution: empowering users with robust data privacy and security measures through the widespread adoption of data science. Recognized as one of the most promising Indian startups of 2023, Naam secured a coveted spot on the Tech30 list unveiled by YourStory at the Bengaluru edition of TechSparks.
Distinguishing itself from competitors like Truecaller, which boasts a massive user base of 270 million in India, Naam utilizes innovative techniques such as analyzing call duration and hang-up rates to discern spam callers. Moreover, Naam scours various online sources, including Google reviews, social media posts, and PDF documents, to compile its database of suspicious numbers. Despite its comprehensive features, Naam’s app maintains a compact size of just 5.9 MB, contrasting with Truecaller’s heavier application.
In a departure from conventional monetization strategies reliant on user engagement, Naam envisions multiple revenue streams, including verified caller ID programs where businesses pay to establish their legitimacy. By catering to companies requiring frequent customer outreach, Naam seeks to disrupt the monopoly held by Truecaller in the realm of caller identification.
To penetrate the vast Indian market, Naam prioritizes linguistic diversity by offering support for nine major Indian languages, facilitated by advanced natural language processing tools. However, the company faces hurdles, as evidenced by user complaints on the Google Play Store regarding delayed caller ID notifications. Despite ongoing efforts to address such issues, Naam acknowledges the need for further refinement to enhance user experience.
Amidst these challenges, Naam remains steadfast in its commitment to catering to a burgeoning user base clamoring for enhanced privacy protections. With a focus on innovation and user-centric design, Naam aims to emerge as a formidable contender in the fiercely competitive landscape of caller identification applications, championing the cause of privacy-conscious consumers across India.
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