It’s pointless to block every single spam number that can call in. If we can’t end spam calls, why don’t phones let you at least block all except numbers in your contact list?
Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?
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Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?
#2Or even maybe just a wildcard option, e.g. "block all calls from 555-*" would be nice
Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?
#3Because nobody wants to download a third party phone call app?
Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?
#4iOS "do not disturb" does this.
Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?
#5I just put my iphone on "do not disturb" full-time and use my favourites list to only allow calls though (from a selected list). People who double call are also allowed through. Then you are not constantly distracted by notifications, emails, texts, spam calls [1]. My thinking is, my phone should serve me, not the other way around, so I only check when I'm not focused on something else. Personally, I find useless notifications way worse than calls.
[1] https://www.iphonelife.com/blog/32671/tip-day-how-let-favori...
Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?
#6iOS "do not disturb" does this.
By only if you’re also willing to forgo every single other possible notification.
Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?
#7Just a guess, but I would expect carriers to be strongly against any feature that made it easy to block most calls.
Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?
#8Or even maybe just a wildcard option, e.g. "block all calls from 555-*" would be nice
On Android, the Call Blocker app from embware does "starts with" and "ends with" matching.
Blocker does a good job on dropping unwanted calls in such a way that they rarely have an opportunity to go to voicemail.
Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?
#9Because nobody wants to download a third party phone call app?
The carriers should pick up the ball a little bit and deal with the spam call problem at the network level, rather than leaving it to apps.
How can the tech be broken that call display can be spoofed; like someone obviously from outside of your area spoofs a number in your area. I can't believe that can't be intercepted.
They just don't care beyond collecting a monthly bill from you.
Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?
#10Or even maybe just a wildcard option, e.g. "block all calls from 555-*" would be nice
The vast majority of junk calls I receive on my cell have my local area code so that wouldn’t work.