Since the beginning of 2016, Detaxor has offered to automatically block calls to premium-rate numbers by offering alternative free numbers found by Internet users. This simple tool that does not yet pay its developer, who wants to extend its functions to SMS. An iOS version is considered, despite the limitations of the system.
While mobile plans have their rates lowered, with promotions, premium rate numbers remain a risk for the bill at the end of the month. Nearly two years ago, developer Gabriel Ter-Minassian designed Detaxor, an Android application that automatically blocks calls to these "value-added services" (VAS) by offering the free alternative number when it exists.
The situation has changed a lot in recent years. March 2008 was marked by the closure of Geonumbers, a base of free alternative numbers, mainly because of corporate pressure. "It's no longer possible now. The law makes it mandatory to provide a toll-free number for after-sales services, recalls the Detaxor designer.