TRAI DND App on iOS: Here's how to use the new app to block spam

With TRAI's spam blocker app finally on iOS, here's how you can use it to reduce the amount of unwanted calls and SMSes.

Earlier this year, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India threatened to render iOS devices in the country useless, because of a dispute involving the implementation of a Do Not Disturb app for the platform. However, this has now been resolved, and the TRAI DND app is now available to download on Apple’s App Store for iPhones. While privacy concerns have been raised, the app does promise to offer some resistance to the problem of spam calls and text messages in India.

If you have an iPhone in India, you can now download the TRAI DND app directly from the App Store. But what does this app do? Read to to find out how to use the new TRAI DND app on iOS.

Step 1: Register for DND

It’s possible that you already have your number on the National Do Not Call registry maintained by TRAI, but if you don’t then this will be your first step. This can be done through the app itself, which requires the sending of an SMS to 1909. The app will allow you to select DND preferences, and will set up the SMS to send. Having your number added to the list can take a few days, though.

Step 2: Enable Extension

Even if the registration will take time, you can still activate the remaining features of the app. In order to do this, you need to enable the extension through your iPhone settings. This can be done by going to Settings, selecting ‘Phone’, then ‘SMS/Call Reporting’, and checking the TRAI DND option. This will allow the app to receive information on your calls. While this would be considered a privacy issue with most apps, it’s the only way to enable the service for now.
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Step 3: Report Spam

Once this is done, you can now directly report spam calls through your phone app on the Apple iPhone. To do this, swipe from right to left on a number in your recent calls list, and select the ‘report’ option. This will allow you to actively report spam callers.

This can be done with spam SMS as well, through a ‘report message’ option just below an SMS from any sender that is not in your contact list. However, this reporting needs you to be active on the NDNC registry. Reporting is done through sending of an SMS to 1909, the official number for the purpose. These SMSes are toll-free, so users need not worry about potential charges for sending the messages.

The app cannot actually block spam calls, but offending senders and callers will be acted on by TRAI in due course. Furthermore, legitimate marketing callers will have access to the NDNC registry, and are expected to avoid spam and marketing calls to users on this list. The app is purely meant to help report spam calls and text messages, and uninstalling the app takes away the option to directly report spam calls and texts through the phone and messages apps on your iPhone.