HomeWinBuzzer NewsMicrosoft Teams up with Apple and Google to Fight Robocalling

Microsoft Teams up with Apple and Google to Fight Robocalling

The "Robocalling Strike Force" hopes to reduce the number of automated calls by implementing better VOIP caller identification and SS7 solutions if viable.

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There are few things more annoying than your day being interrupted by a pointless, automated call. The practice seems to be on the rise in the US, but with hope, it won't be for much longer.

has joined , and 30 other companies to create a so-called Robocalling Strike Force. Together, the technology firms pledge to create solutions to stop automated smartphone calls in the U.S.

Other major companies participating include BlackBerry, Nokia, Samsung, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile. The group held its first meeting with the SCC on today, and AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson wrote:

“The fact that we are all here speaks to the breadth and complexity of the robocall problem. This is going to require more than individual company initiatives and one-off blocking apps.  Robocallers are a formidable adversary, notoriously hard to stop. This strike force will need to take a different approach. If we truly want to deal with this, the entire ecosystem has to work together – carriers, device makers, OS developers, network designers.  And don't forget, regulators and lawmakers have a role to play.  We have to come out of this with a comprehensive play book for all of us to go execute.”

Prevention Methods

At Chairman Wheeler's request, the group did just that, coming up with five major improvements. They go beyond “do-not-call” lists, which have traditionally been easily circumvented:

  • “Conform to VOIP caller ID verification standards as soon as they are made available by the standards setting groups.
  • Adopt, if viable, SS7 solutions associated with VOIP calls.
  • Work together with the industry, including every company in this room, along with the standards setting bodies, to evaluate the feasibility of a “Do Not Originate” list.
  • Further develop and implement solutions to detect, assess and stop unwanted calls from reaching customers.
  • And finally, facilitate efforts by other carriers to adopt call-blocking technologies on their networks.”

The Robocalling Strikeforce will report back to the Commission by October 19th, bringing concrete plans to implement these changes.

SourceAT&T
Ryan Maskell
Ryan Maskellhttps://ryanmaskell.co.uk
Ryan has had a passion for gaming and technology since early childhood. Fusing the skills from his Creative Writing and Publishing degree with profound technical knowledge, he enjoys covering news about Microsoft. As an avid writer, he is also working on his debut novel.

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