Truecaller vs CNAP: Truecaller's future is at risk! Will the government's CNAP system make it obsolete?
The Truecaller story began in 2009 in Stockholm, Sweden. Two students from the Royal Institute of Technology, Alan Mamedi and Nami Zarringhalam, were frustrated by calls from unknown numbers. This small frustration gave birth to Truecaller. Initially, it was only for BlackBerry phones, but as the smartphone wave grew, the app dominated the Android and iPhone world. This modest student project gradually transformed into a major tech company, which is now also listed on the stock market.
India: The biggest witness to Truecaller's success
Truecaller gained its true strength through crowdsourcing. As users started reporting spam calls, its database grew stronger. Around 2014, the problem of spam calls suddenly increased in India, and this is where Truecaller became the first choice for Indians. Today, India is the app's largest market, with over 250 million users. Recognizing India's importance, the company started storing Indian users' data within the country from 2018. Even after the founders stepped down in November 2024, Rishit Jhunjhunwala, of Indian origin, was given the reins of the company.
What is CNAP that has impacted Truecaller?
Now, the biggest challenge for Truecaller has come in the form of Calling Name Presentation (CNAP). This is a new system being introduced by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). This feature will work directly through the telecom network (Jio, Airtel, Vi), not through any app on your phone. The caller's name will flash on your screen based on their KYC (Know Your Customer) documents. This means you won't need to give any third-party app access to your contact list or install any new app on your phone. Telecom companies in India have already started offering this service.
Truecaller is caught in a battle for survival.
The biggest advantage of CNAP is its reliability and privacy. When the network itself provides the caller's name, users will likely no longer need apps like Truecaller, which are riddled with advertisements and require extensive permissions. Experts believe that as soon as Jio or Airtel fully implements this service, a large number of users may uninstall Truecaller. Truecaller's business model, based on advertising and premium subscriptions, appears to be under threat from this new technology.
What is the way forward for Truecaller now?
Market experts say that Truecaller will now have to move beyond being just a "caller ID" app. If it wants to survive, it will have to focus on AI (Artificial Intelligence)-based fraud detection and business communication tools. The company has not yet issued any official statement on CNAP, but it is clear that in the coming times, it may have to completely change its identity and way of working, otherwise, this major digital company will become a thing of the past.
Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Amar Ujala. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.
