 "Truecaller launches TrueSDK to help developers onboard first-time internet users")
Majority of today's first-time Internet users are predominantly on mobile, making it hard for them to sign up for services since they often don't have email ids. In order to address this issue, app-based caller ID service Truecaller has launched its software development kit (SDK) to allow third party apps verify user sign ups with nothing more than their phone number.
Sweden-based Truecaller chose India to launch its TrueSDK service given its 100 million strong user base and large base of first-time Internet users that are coming online due to the spurt in smartphone sales. The company has tied up with a dozen startups such as Quikr, redBus, OYO Rooms, in order to roll out the service.
“We realised the power and importance of a mobile number, especially when it comes to personal identification Our aim is to empower third party apps with a credible verification option and enable users to use the app of their choice by making their phone numbers their identity," said Nami Zarringhalam, co-founder and chief strategy officer of Truecaller, said in a statement.
Through the SDK, app developers will be able to allow users to sign up, sign in or even auto-fill their details within the apps. The feature will be open for developers globally and the company will offer it to them at no cost. Social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Google+ offer similar functionality to developers, but creating accounts on those services is linked to having an email id.
While Truecaller's largest market is India, the company does not divulge any financial details. Monetisation is a key issue for web services in India, with even social network giant Facebook reporting a revenue of Rs 124 crore during fiscal 2015 despite having 138 million users on its platform.
"Perceiving it as not making money in India, I would say that is not correct, whether it's social networks or other apps. They are making a tremendous amount of money in India through different channels. Now perhaps if you compare that to how much they're making per user in other markets such as the US, or the UK or Japan, there might be a significant difference there," said Nami.
However, this hasn't deterred companies such as Truecaller from investing in growth in India, aiming to tap into the fastest growing smartphone market in the world. "The next billion people is going to be online here in India and you want to be part of that journey. You want to be a brand among those users, you want to add value to their lives.
And I think most app developers would say yes to that and of course we did," added Nami.