Spam blocking app Truecaller has launched Truecaller Backup for Android, a new feature which allows users to back up and restore their contacts, call history, block list and settings to Google Drive.
The Truecaller app, which allows people to see who is calling and filter out spam calls and SMSes, has 250 million verified users globally, of which 50 million are in Africa.
Truecaller says the new feature is one of the most highly requested by users worldwide.
"Every day, thousands of Truecaller users are switching to a new phone, getting a new SIM card, resetting their device, or in general having to start their Truecaller journey anew. This inevitably leads to lost contacts, blank call logs and lost data," the company says in a statement.
Users will now be able to customise the frequency of a backup between daily, weekly, monthly or on demand. The upgrade enables the recovery of any lost data from Google Drive which Truecaller can restore to its last saved state.
Initially, the backup file will only be available for Google Drive users, but the plan is to expand the options to other backup storage in the near future, the group says. Those who don't already have a Google Drive account will be prompted to create one.
Late last year, Truecaller announced it will make Africa a key priority region and increase its presence on the continent. The company will set up headquarters in the region and scout for key personnel for its operations.
In a study conducted by Truecaller last year, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt rank among the top 20 countries in the world being plagued by unwanted spam calls.
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