Gadgets & Apps

{Wonder app: Doosra} Giving users the power to decide which calls reach their phones

This virtual mobile number can be shared anywhere without worrying about phone number abuse from telemarketers and scamsters.

While billions of people adapt to the latest digital technologies for information at their fingertips, concerns of data privacy and protection have become rife. Amidst the range of negative consequences that have resulted from the access of personal data, are information mishandling, over-installing apps, and data breaches.

Prioritizing consumer data protection and to safeguard the digital identity of the mobile users, Ten20 Infomedia Pvt Ltd has designed and developed Doosra.

Doosra, a Hyderabad based company, first-of-its-kind solution, is a 10-Digit, SIM free virtual mobile number that users can share whenever and wherever they are compelled to share their personal mobile numbers. It helps to get rid of endless spam calls, messages, and reduces the risk of getting defrauded.

Given the fast changing nature of data privacy regulations and giving utmost priority to the data security and privacy of the users, Doosra promises not to share user data with any third party or other apps.

The Tech Panda spoke to Aditya Vuchi, Founder and CEO of Doosra about their vision behind the product.

Aditya Vuchi

We believe everyone should have the flexibility and choice to share the information needed to receive a service, pay for it with their wallet and not be subject to unintended harassment from telemarketers and scamsters due to data monetisation

“Doosra is a privacy-focused company, and we believe in taking the minimal amount of personal data needed to provide service while being compliant with prevailing regulations,” he says.

He adds that they believe in providing “a simple to read privacy policy that outlines our data usage and data retention plans.” And “Ensure that everyone in the organisation understands our purpose and works towards building a product focused on privacy.”

“Overall, we believe everyone should have the flexibility and choice to share the information needed to receive a service, pay for it with their wallet and not be subject to unintended harassment from telemarketers and scamsters due to data monetisation,” he adds.

What It Does

Doosra is a secondary, virtual mobile number that can be shared anywhere without worrying about phone number abuse from telemarketers and scamsters.

“By blocking all calls by default, Doosra gives you complete control of who can reach and who cannot,” Vuchi explains.

All messages and OTPs arrive in the Doosra app, just like any other number.

By blocking all calls by default, Doosra gives you complete control of who can reach and who cannot

“Our customers are actively using Doosra in online classifieds, malls, supermarkets, delivery websites, messaging platforms (like Whatsapp, Signal, Telegram and others), insurance portals, dating and matrimonial sites, car buying sites, buy/sell marketplaces etc.” he adds.

“In our case, we take the primary mobile number to ensure allowed calls can be forwarded to the right number. We don’t store passwords. They are the #1 reason for account compromise as people reuse passwords across portals. Even an email address during sign-up is optional. We do undertake e-KYC done through the app as required by regulators in issuing a Doosra number,” he further explains.

Features

Some features of the app include a Smart Call Blocker, calls from trusted service providers like Swiggy, Zomato, Ola, a free voicemail service to help both callers and customers. But most importantly, their user base can securely call back people who have reached them without ever revealing their personal information.

“This call-bridging facility is the first of its kind in India,” Vuchi says proudly.

They even have Doosra Pro, a KYC-enabled, more flexible edition that allows users and small businesses to use a Doosra number. Some notable features include official support for all messaging platforms, indefinite control of call blocker, unlimited trusted contacts, and multi-device login (up to five devices).

Users can use Doosra to sign in for Whatsapp, Facebook, and Twitter.

Doosra blocks all calls by default. All text messages sent to this secondary number are stored within the app. However, users always have the option to add a ‘trusted number’, so they can whitelist the contact and their calls can come through. The other way to allow calls is to turn off the call blocker time and location until required.

“Since the mobile number has become the digital identity in India, we provide an alternative digital ID to use at places but don’t want to part with your personal number. Since all calls are blocked by default, Doosra offers a safe choice for shoppers and others who wish to conduct work in the digital world. Doosra users can sign up on Whatsapp, Telegram, Amazon and any other platform that requires a standard 10-digit mobile number,” he says.

Inspiration & Origin

Doosra was born from a bitter personal experience, Vuchi recalls. A few years ago, while shopping at a sporting goods store, he had decided to walk away after the billing clerk mandated that he share his personal mobile number for billing purposes.

“With my past experience in digital marketing, I fully understood the travesty of sharing personal information with businesses and the resultant behavioural profiling that is done for advertising purposes,” he says.

With my past experience in digital marketing, I fully understood the travesty of sharing personal information with businesses and the resultant behavioural profiling that is done for advertising purposes

“This incident gave me the idea of creating a publicly-shareable mobile number that can be given at places where a person is uncomfortable sharing their personal number,” he reminisces.

They started working on it in the summer of 2019, partnering with telecom operators to bring this unique and innovative product to market.

The Doosra USP

Vuchi says that Doosra is well-positioned for the following reasons:

Simple second number: All-digital and instant activation means users can get a Doosra number quickly
Virtual: No SIM needed or additional device required to run a Doosra number
Focus on privacy: Doosra provides unique call management features like trusted contacts, trusted services, and voicemail, which are not available with any telecom operator

Growth Story

Since their launch, the product has blocked over 1.5 million and 500,000 calls from over 45,000 telemarketers since launch. Vuchi says that they also see significant interest from businesses that would like to use their telecom stack to better serve customers.

“Just in the last two months, we’ve added marquee names to our list of Doosra users,” he says.

The company’s plans are to reach three-five million users in the next 18-24 months.

“One of the common use cases at Doosra is the ability to give your Doosra number at buy-sell marketplaces. This means brokers and vendors will reach out to the consumer. We now allow a Doosra user to set a time-based passcode that can be shared along with a Doosra number so that these ephemeral transactions can be handled seamlessly,” he says.

Navanwita Bora Sachdev

Navanwita is the editor of The Tech Panda who also frequently publishes stories in news outlets such as The Indian Express, Entrepreneur India, and The Business Standard