Online directory service Truecaller has introduced an ‘availability’ feature on its Truedialer Android app where users can turn their availability to on and off. This feature is available under “Availability” in settings which reads ‘show other Truedialer users that I am busy during phone calls (3G/WiFi needed), calendar events and silent mode’. Both the users trying to call each other need to set Truedialer as their default calling app for to see these details, implying that the feature will be visible to only other Truedialer users. For now, the feature does not allow the user to set a time during which they will be unavailable. Note that this feature is really just a UI popping up a screen telling a user that the other user is ‘busy’, with alternatives to send SMS, Notify me when free and Call Anyway. For this, it also places a green (available) and red (busy) dot against the contacts of those who have made use of the feature. Truecaller says on its blog that Truedialer can indicate when the person you’re trying to call is on another call (a feature already made available by telecom operators under ‘waiting calls’), and syncs to the call logs automatically blocking out meeting and appointment times. 21st century problems At first glance, this seems like a handy feature to have, because why not. Depending on which side you’re on, it could either be seen as someone who has manners, almost polite, telling people when they won’t be available, while…
