TransUnion Aims to Restore Trust in Mobile Communications
▼ Summary
– TransUnion is acquiring RealNetworks’ mobile division to expand its Trusted Call Solutions and gain a stronger foothold in the E.U. market.
– The acquisition aims to address a major problem where consumers ignore calls from unknown numbers, hindering legitimate organizations from delivering critical information.
– TransUnion’s existing service verifies legitimate callers and blocks spoofed calls, and it will now extend similar trust and promotional capabilities to text messages via the KONTXT platform.
– Mobile phone fraud causes over $80 billion in annual losses worldwide, and voice and text channels lag behind email in consumer protection technology.
– The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026, though the financial terms have not been publicly disclosed.
TransUnion has taken a significant step to address the widespread issue of mobile communication fraud by acquiring RealNetworks’ mobile division. This strategic move aims to enhance TransUnion’s Trusted Call Solutions suite, extending its protective capabilities to text messaging and strengthening its position within the European Union. The acquisition reflects a direct response to a growing crisis where consumers increasingly ignore calls and texts from unknown numbers, creating major obstacles for legitimate organizations in finance, healthcare, and government that rely on these channels to share vital information. With global mobile phone fraud now reportedly costing over $80 billion each year, the need for verified and secure communication has never been more urgent.
The core of TransUnion’s existing strategy involves its Trusted Call Solutions, which helps organizations establish credibility during outbound calls. The system displays the caller’s verified name and logo on recipient devices, which helps to validate legitimate calls and block spoofed ones. This directly increases customer trust and engagement, a point emphasized by James Garvert, SVP of communications solutions at TransUnion. He notes that the value for businesses is clear when a consumer can confidently recognize who is contacting them.
Integrating technology from RealNetworks, the company behind the early internet’s RealPlayer, will allow TransUnion to apply similar principles of trust and branding to the text message channel. This will be facilitated through a platform known as KONTXT. According to Garvert, combining voice and text protection provides clients with a comprehensive, 360-degree view to safeguard all their customer communications. This unified approach is designed to close security gaps that scammers currently exploit.
It is somewhat surprising that voice and text messaging have fallen behind email in terms of consumer protection mechanisms. Garvert explains that email spam filters benefit from a richer context, analyzing sender and recipient data along with the full content of messages, including images and attachments. In contrast, voice communication has seen limited innovation in authentication, while the text channel is only beginning to develop robust security frameworks.
The threat landscape is continuously evolving. While many fraudulent activities currently use basic SMS, experts anticipate a shift toward more sophisticated MMS and Rich Communication Services (RCS) attacks. This progression will necessitate ongoing advancements in protective technology. TransUnion positions itself at the forefront of this evolution, aiming to adapt its solutions as scammers change their tactics. The transaction is anticipated to be finalized in the first half of 2026, though the financial terms remain confidential.
(Source: MarTech)
