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发帖数: 5004 | 1 DoT asked to block low-cost calling app WePhone for spoofing caller ID
The Intelligence Bureau (IB) has asked the Department of Telecom (DoT) to
block the Skype-like low-cost international calling app WePhone as it allows
spoofing of caller ID making it difficult to identify or locate the actual
caller, reports PTI. The app requires users to verify their phone numbers at
the time of installation, but later provides an option to disable or hide
the number so that it doesn’t reflect on Caller Line Identification (CLI).
Calls made from WePhone displays a US number (+17777777777) on the receiver
’s caller ID by default, though users can later set any number they want as
the display number or even hide it. This seems to be the IB’s primary
contention against the app.
WePhone Caller ID
Read more in the FAQ section.
The app uses Wi-Fi or 3G/4G network available on the phone to make the calls
. However it doesn’t support incoming calls or messaging. The app also
provides a Callback feature, which allows users to make call even in areas
with low-quality mobile internet connectivity. It’s also possible to call
people who don’t have WePhone app installed on their phones. Though the app
in free to download, users need to purchase call credits within the app to
make calls. According to the WePhone website call rates for India varies
between Rs 1.20 per minutes and Rs 1.80 per minute, depending on the plan
the user is on (Standard, Gold or VIP).
Currently, both the Android and iOS versions of the app are still available
on the respective app store.
Skype to block voice calls to phones in India: Earlier this month, Microsoft
’s Internet telephony service Skype decided to discontinue its voice call
service to phones (landlines and mobiles) in India from November 10. Indian
Skype users will be able to continue making free Skype-to-Skype calls within
India. They’ll also be able to make calls to mobiles and landlines in
India from outside the country and make calls from India to mobiles and
landlines in other countries.
Will LINE and Viber’s calling service be blocked too?
Japanese mobile messaging and calling app LINE had extended its premium
calling service LINE Call to India last month. It allows users make low-cost
calls directly to mobile phones and landlines in India and worldwide.
Mobile messaging company Viber, which has around 15 million users in India,
had also launched a calling service called Viber Out that allowed users to
make calls to mobile phones and landlines around the world, in December last
year. In both cases the question was – is this legal?
As per Indian laws, PC-to-PC or IP-to-IP telephony is allowed but calls
originating from within India cannot be terminated on mobiles or landlines
without a unified license. This was the reason Nimbuzz tied-up with
Spectranet to offer its VoIP service instead of launching it independently.
While LINE doesn’t seem to have partnered with any company to launch this
service in India, Viber founder & CEO Talmon Marco had replied to
NextBigWhat’s question about unified license by saying, ““We are not an
India-based company. So…” |
