tech
ReefGuard Launches Updated Call-Filtering Platform Amid Rising Spam Complaints
Maroochydore startup ReefGuard rolls out its updated call-filtering platform amid rising spam complaints across the Sunshine Coast.
How we reported this
ReefGuard released version 4.2 of its anti-spam mobile app on July 8, adding real-time number verification that blocks calls from unregistered telemarketers before the first ring.
The update arrives as federal regulators press autonomous vehicle firms to stop blocking emergency signals and as India’s telecom authority tightens rules on caller identification services. Sunshine Coast residents report an average of 11 spam calls per week, according to a June survey by the local chamber of commerce, making the timing critical for households and small businesses that rely on landlines for bookings.
Local rollout and partnerships
ReefGuard operates from a converted warehouse on Aerodrome Road in Maroochydore and has placed testing kiosks inside the Sunshine Plaza shopping centre. The company also runs a free training session every Tuesday evening at the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Sippy Downs campus, where staff demonstrate how the app integrates with existing Telstra and Optus accounts. Neighbourhoods such as Buderim and Coolum Beach have seen the steepest uptake after local real-estate offices began requiring the tool for after-hours inquiries.
Version 4.2 costs $4.99 per month for individual users and $29 for a five-line business plan. The platform now processes 2.3 million calls daily across Australia, with 87 percent of flagged numbers traced to overseas call centres. ReefGuard reports a 41 percent drop in successful spam connections for its 68,000 Sunshine Coast subscribers since the feature launched in beta on May 15.
Next steps for users
Residents can download the update through the Apple App Store or Google Play and verify their own numbers at the ReefGuard booth at Sunshine Plaza until July 31. Those who complete the Tuesday evening session receive a one-month free trial. The company plans to add a desktop dashboard for real-estate agencies by September, allowing staff at offices along the Nicklin Way corridor to screen calls without switching devices.