Table of Contents
Developer / Data Controller: Gyatam (operated by Krishna Pandit)
Contact Email: talkative.krishna@gyatam.com
Package ID: com.gyatam.talkative
Introduction
Talkative ("we", "our", "us") is a voice calling app that helps people in India practice spoken English by connecting them with real conversation partners. This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, and your rights regarding your data.
By using Talkative, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of the app.
Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide Directly
| Data | Why We Collect It |
|---|---|
| Mobile Phone Number | Sole authentication method. Used to verify your identity via OTP. We store only the verified number — never shared publicly. |
| Full Name | Displayed to your conversation partner during a call. |
| Date of Birth / Age | To verify you meet the minimum age requirement (18+) and to match you with appropriate conversation partners. |
| Gender | Used for matching preferences and profile display. |
| Indian State / Union Territory | Used to personalise the experience and for regional insights. |
| Profile Photo | Displayed on your profile and on the incoming call screen of your partner. Optional to update. |
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
| Data | Why We Collect It |
|---|---|
| FCM Token | Required to deliver incoming call notifications to your device, even when the app is in the background or closed. |
| Device Model & OS Version | Used to enforce single-session login (prevents your account from being used on two devices simultaneously). |
| Online / Presence Status | Your online/offline/searching/in-call status is stored in our real-time system so the matching engine can connect you with available partners. This data is ephemeral — automatically deleted when you go offline or close the app. |
| Call History | Records of your past calls including duration, date/time, and the anonymous user ID of your conversation partner. Used to display your call history in-app. |
| App Analytics Events | Aggregate usage events (e.g., screen visits, call initiated, call ended) collected via Firebase Analytics. Used to improve app features. No personal content is captured. |
| Crash Reports | Technical error logs collected via Firebase Crashlytics. Used to identify and fix bugs. These logs contain device/OS info and stack traces — no personal conversation content. |
2.3 Voice / Audio
✓ We do NOT record, store, or transmit your voice conversations.
✓ Audio during calls is streamed in real-time between you and your partner using encrypted WebRTC/LiveKit infrastructure.
✓ Once a call ends, no audio data is retained anywhere.
2.4 What We Do NOT Collect
— We do not collect your location (no GPS, IP-based location, or cell-tower data).
— We do not access your contacts, photos, or files beyond the single profile photo you choose to upload.
— We do not read your SMS messages beyond the automated one-time OTP during sign-in.
— We do not collect payment card details (handled entirely by Google Play Billing).
How We Use Your Information
| Purpose | Data Used | Legal Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Authenticate your identity | Phone number, OTP | Contract (providing the service) |
| Create and display your profile | Name, age, gender, state, photo | Contract |
| Match you with a conversation partner | User ID, presence status, age, gender | Contract |
| Deliver incoming call notifications | FCM token | Contract |
| Display caller info on incoming call screen | Name, profile photo | Contract |
| Maintain call history | Call duration, date, partner user ID | Contract |
| Prevent account sharing across devices | Device model, user ID | Legitimate interest (security) |
| Improve app features | Firebase Analytics events | Legitimate interest |
| Fix technical bugs | Firebase Crashlytics reports | Legitimate interest |
| Subscription management | User ID, subscription type, status | Contract |
How We Store Your Data
| Data Type | Storage Location | Retention |
|---|---|---|
| Profile data (name, age, gender, state, photo URL) | PostgreSQL database (our VPS) | Until account deletion |
| Profile photos | Cloudflare R2 cloud storage | Until account deletion or photo update |
| Call history | PostgreSQL database | Until account deletion |
| Authentication tokens | Android Keystore (on-device secure storage) | Until logout |
| Online / presence status | Redis in-memory store (auto-expires) | Deleted automatically on sign-out or timeout |
| Subscription data | PostgreSQL database | Until account deletion |
| Analytics & crash data | Google Firebase (Google's servers) | Per Google's data retention policy |
| Cached profile (offline access) | SharedPreferences (on-device storage only) | Until logout or app uninstall |
Data Sharing & Third Parties
We do not sell your personal data. We share data only with the following trusted service providers who help us operate the app:
| Service | Purpose | Privacy Policy |
|---|---|---|
| MSG91 | Sending OTP SMS for phone number verification | msg91.com/privacy-policy |
| LiveKit | Real-time encrypted voice call infrastructure | livekit.io/privacy |
| Firebase (Google) | Push notifications (FCM), crash reports (Crashlytics), analytics | firebase.google.com/support/privacy |
| Cloudflare R2 | Profile photo storage and delivery | cloudflare.com/privacypolicy |
| Google Play Billing | In-app subscription purchases | policies.google.com/privacy |
We may also disclose your information if required by Indian law, court order, or to protect the safety of our users.
Data shared during a call: When you are connected to a partner, that partner can see your display name and profile photo. They cannot see your phone number.
Android Permissions
| Permission | Why It Is Needed |
|---|---|
INTERNET | Essential for all app functionality (API, WebSocket, LiveKit) |
RECORD_AUDIO | Required to capture your voice during English practice calls |
READ_PHONE_STATE | Required during OTP-based phone number verification |
RECEIVE_SMS / READ_SMS | Auto-reads the OTP code so you don't have to type it manually. Only used at sign-in. |
POST_NOTIFICATIONS | Required on Android 13+ to show incoming call notifications |
USE_FULL_SCREEN_INTENT | Allows the incoming call screen to appear on your lock screen, similar to WhatsApp calls |
FOREGROUND_SERVICE / FOREGROUND_SERVICE_MICROPHONE | Keeps the microphone active during a call when you switch apps, preventing call drops |
BLUETOOTH / BLUETOOTH_CONNECT | Routes audio to Bluetooth headsets if one is connected |
WAKE_LOCK | Keeps the screen from sleeping while you are in an active call |
Children's Privacy
Talkative is not intended for users under 18 years of age. We require users to enter their date of birth during account creation and reject registrations from users below the minimum age (18).
If we become aware that we have collected data from a user under 18, we will delete that data immediately. If you believe a minor has registered, please contact us at the email address at the top of this policy.
Your Rights (Under Indian IT Act / DPDP Act 2023)
Under applicable Indian data protection law, you have the right to:
Access
Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
Correction
Request correction of inaccurate data. You can update most data directly in the app's Profile screen.
Erasure
Request deletion of your account and all associated personal data.
Withdraw Consent
You may withdraw consent at any time by deleting your account. This does not affect the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal.
Grievance Redressal
Lodge a complaint with us at the contact email below. We will respond within 30 days.
Account and Data Deletion
You may delete your account at any time from within the app (Settings → Delete Account) or by contacting us via email. Upon deletion:
Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your data:
No system is 100% secure. If you believe your account has been compromised, contact us immediately.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this document and, for significant changes, notify you via an in-app notification. Your continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy, please contact:
Gyatam
Email: talkative.krishna@gyatam.com
App: Talkative — English Speaking Practice
Package: com.gyatam.talkative
This policy was written based on the actual technical implementation of Talkative as of March 2026. It will be updated before public launch to reflect any changes made during the beta testing period.