iWorld
Airtel gives caller ID a glow up with Business Name Display launch
MUMBAI: Is it your bank or just another spam bot? Airtel Business wants to take the guesswork out of answering calls, one display name at a time. The telecom giant has launched Business Name Display (BND), a first-of-its-kind service in India that lets businesses flash their verified brand name on your phone screen during outgoing calls. In a world where unknown numbers trigger suspicion and “Potential Spam” labels trigger instant rejection, this nifty new feature is all about making customer conversations a little less cat-and-mouse.
The move builds on Airtel’s earlier anti-spam crusade, which helped users dodge pesky telemarketers but had the unfortunate side-effect of flagging legit calls from banks, food delivery riders, hospitals, and couriers as possible spam. So while users became savvier, brands got ghosted. BND aims to change that reinstating trust, one branded ring at a time.
Airtel Business director & CEO Sharat Sinha said, “At Airtel, we are constantly innovating to create a communication experience that is smarter, safer and more transparent for everyone. With “Business Name Display”, we will be helping businesses establish trust and stand out with every call while simultaneously giving customers the confidence of knowing who is reaching out to them. It is about making communication more personal, secure and seamless for both sides.”
Airtel piloted the feature with over 250 companies across banking, retail, mobility, and delivery services. In just one month, these businesses used 1.5 million plus numbers to make 12.8 million calls, reporting a spike in engagement and answer rates. Because apparently, when people know it’s their pizza or parcel calling they tend to pick up.
The service is easily activated via Airtel Business’s portal, where companies can register and configure their details. No more hiding behind random digits, just clear, verified identity with every ring.
In a world of dodgy dials, Airtel’s Business Name Display could be the caller ID glow-up we didn’t know we needed.
iWorld
Netflix cuts jobs in product division amid restructuring
Layoffs hit creative studio unit as leadership and strategy shifts unfold.
MUMBAI: The streaming wars may be fought on screen, but the latest plot twist is unfolding behind the scenes. Netflix has reportedly begun laying off several dozen employees from its product division as part of an internal reorganisation, according to a report by Variety. The cuts are believed to have primarily affected the company’s creative studio unit, which works on marketing assets such as in app trailers, promotional visuals and live experience content for the streaming platform.
The company has not disclosed the exact number of employees impacted.
According to the report, the layoffs were not tied to employee performance. Instead, the restructuring eliminated certain roles while other employees were reassigned to different teams within the organisation.
The roles affected are understood to include designers, producers and creative specialists responsible for marketing and brand experience initiatives.
The job cuts come as Netflix adjusts its leadership structure and reshapes its product and creative teams. Last month, Elizabeth Stone was promoted from chief technology officer to chief product and technology officer, giving her oversight of product, engineering and data operations across the company.
Earlier, in December 2025, Netflix also appointed Martin Rose as head of creative for global brand and partnerships, a move seen as part of a broader restructuring of the company’s brand and product functions.
Despite the layoffs, Netflix remains one of the largest employers in the streaming sector. The company is estimated to employ around 16,000 people globally, with roughly 70 percent of its workforce based in the United States and Canada. In 2023, the company reported approximately 13,000 employees, indicating that its headcount had grown significantly before the latest restructuring.
The workforce changes arrive at a time when Netflix is navigating a shifting financial and strategic landscape in the global entertainment industry.
The streaming giant recently secured $2.8 billion in additional cash after receiving a breakup fee from Paramount Skydance following its withdrawal from a deal involving Warner Bros. Discovery.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Netflix co chief executive Ted Sarandos explained that the company had evaluated multiple scenarios during the negotiations but chose not to match the competing offer once it learned that a higher bid had been submitted.
Netflix had capped its offer at $27.75 per share and ultimately stepped back rather than pursue Paramount’s $111 billion acquisition deal, which included a personal guarantee.
Sarandos also cautioned that the financing structure behind the Paramount Skydance transaction could have ripple effects across the entertainment industry.
According to him, the debt heavy deal could trigger significant cost cutting, with David Ellison, chief executive of Paramount Skydance, expected to eliminate about $16 billion in costs and potentially cut thousands of jobs as part of the integration process.
For Netflix, the current restructuring appears to be part of a broader attempt to streamline operations while continuing to invest in product, technology and global content even as the streaming industry enters a new phase of consolidation and financial discipline.
