PrivacyStar intelligently handles unknown calls

Rating: Blackberry app crying out to be licensed

Here’s an app which is crying out to be licensed to developers for other global markets – PrivacyStar from First Orion. Interestingly the company has picked the Blackberry for its first version and is selling it on subscription rather than outright.
This app boasts many features which are pertinent only to those in the USA, but users globally would appreciate the ways in which it enables Blackberry users to deal with unknown calls.

For example, after receiving an unwanted call, the user can select the phone number from the Blackberry’s call log to add to a ‘Privacy List’ that would block all future calls from that number.

Here’s another very useful facility – ‘reverse look up’. Effectively if the Blackberry receives a call from a number that is not in the addressbook, PrivacyStar employs a Caller Lookup service to identify unknown numbers.

Once recognised the number can either be added to the addressbook or placed in the Privacy List. GoMo News doesn’t know how well this would work in other markets but assumes there could be a tie-up with one of the many ‘118′ services in the UK.

This is another handy capability – the app can be synchronises with a personal web portal. This enables users to manage blocked callers - including unblocking numbers that were mistakenly blocked.

A very US centric feature is the ability to captures detailed information about possible violations by telemarketers to provide this information to the relevant law enforcement such as the Federal Trade Commission.

You can download this Blackberry app from the PrivacyStar website or point your Blackberry here to see if it is actually suitable for this software.
The product can be used on trial for 30 days after that the company wants a subscription fee of £2.99 per month.

Given that First Orion describes itself as “a corporation with a significant intellectual property portfolio dedicated to phone privacy and preference”, these guys might be up for a deal.

Tony is based in Surrey and is a veteran comms journalist. Tony also writes on the UK market… contact him here tony@mobileinsight.co.uk