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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?

#21

Post by max76 »

kazinator wrote: post #9
anigbrowl wrote: post #3

Because 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.

T-Mobile is the front runner carrier for dealing with spam and fraud phone calls in the US. I'll link some official marketing about one of their features, but they are doing a lot in this space. I suspect they find that these features increase brand loyalty per dollar more than the coverage arms race, which they can never win against their deep pocketed opponents.

https://www.t-mobile.com/resources/call-protection

Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?

#22

Post by jimktrains2 »

kazinator wrote: post #9
anigbrowl wrote: post #3

Because 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.

Caller ID originates from the sender and has no authentication. (Bell 303 modem modulation between the 1st and 2nd rings iirc.) I don't believe there is any other data with the call to know the calling number either. (I don't work in Telecom, so take it with a grain of salt as that's just the research I've done as an outsider.)

Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?

#23

Post by pxeboot »

jonwachob91 wrote: post #17
pxeboot wrote: post #7

Just a guess, but I would expect carriers to be strongly against any feature that made it easy to block most calls.

Carriers no longer get paid per call, so you'd think they'd be incentivized to lower the load on their network by reducing the number of spam calls.

At least in the US, the carrier initiating the call still pays the receiving carrier. This is less then 1¢/minute in most cases, but still represents real money when multipled by millions of calls a day.

Users just pay for 'Unlimited Calling' now, but all the legacy payment structures still exist on the back end.

Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?

#24

Post by bcyn »

squirrelicus wrote: post #18
jonwachob91 wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a difference between unknown callers and calls from numbers not in your contact list.

Can you explain?

Unknown = caller who has chosen to hide their number, or their number is just unavailable for any other reason.

Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?

#25

Post by jnbiche »

anigbrowl wrote: post #3

Because nobody wants to download a third party phone call app?

I'm not particularly comfortable downloading and giving a third-party dialer/phone apps all the permissions needed to run my phone calls, particularly given since some third-party contact apps have already been busted vacuuming up contacts:

https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:qU2zOt...

Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?

#26

Post by Figs »

You can? I thought that was pretty standard on Android phones? On my phone, at least, there are do-not-disturb options for "priority only" (which can be set to either specific contacts or the whole contact list), "alarms only", and "total silence" (careful with that one).

Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?

#27

Post by IgorPartola »

kylec wrote: post #15
WestCoastJustin wrote: post #5

I 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 not…

I want to do this, but only for calls. All other notifications should happen normally. It annoys me that iOS doesn't support that though, it's all or nothing.

Custom ringtone that is silent and individual ring tones for the select few contacts?

Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?

#28

Post by pmoriarty »

On Android, you can do exactly this with an app called "Should I Answer?"

That app has a lot more features too, like blocking calls which are rated negatively in the community-curated database. Of course, you can rate numbers yourself as well, and block/whitelist those.

It can also block hidden numbers or foreign numbers, and a whole bunch of other stuff as well.

It's a pretty cool app. Check it out.

Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?

#29

Post by mamon »

bcyn wrote: post #24
squirrelicus wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you explain?

Unknown = caller who has chosen to hide their number, or their number is just unavailable for any other reason.

Fortunately, my carrier allows blocking such calls on NETWORK level, so they don't ever reach my phone.

Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?

#30

Post by aiyodev »

This is still possible with Google Voice but through the legacy menu. I hope they aren't planning to drop these features any time soon.

You can screen calls or automatically send them to voicemail. You can create rules for groups of contacts that override the default. You can setup different voicemail messages for different groups.

I have it setup to send everyone but friends and family to voicemail. The transcript of this message is emailed to me. If I get multiple spam voicemails from the same number, I add the number to a contact called "Block" which sends them to a custom voicemail message I recorded telling them the number has been disconnected.

My number is posted on websites, I use it when signing up for shady things, but I hardly ever get spam. I remember having to add a lot of numbers the first month and then suddenly the torrent of spam calls abruptly stopped. I assume they blacklisted my number on their lists. I've been pretty much spam free for years.

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