Get a Google Voice number. Give your cell number to people, the Google Voice number everywhere else. You can configure Google Voice to send all calls to voicemail if you want. And I think you can still configure it to send you a transcription via text. Spam calls won't leave a message.
Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?
31–40 of 332 posts
Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?
#32Oh, easy. Collection agencies. Collection agencies are a vital part of the capitalist financial apparatus. Banks rely on them to enforce loan term agreements, and in turn defend them when in negotiation with e.g. Apple, when e.g. negotiating agreements regarding e.g. Apple Pay. I suspect (but cannot prove) an elaborate leaning on mobile companies to keep nonconsensual cold calls possible. Look for this state-of-affai…
> I expect, by 2025 at the latest, that mobile service and handset providers will begin kneecapping devices whose owners have displeased Equifax.
What type of action could someone put on a device to deal with an owner that has bad credit?
Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?
#33Tangentially; T-Mobile tags suspect numbers with "Scam Likely" caller ID. Opt-in to block these calls by dialing #662# - https://www.t-mobile.com/resources/call-protection
edit; T-Mobile accepts forwarded text message SPAM at 7726 - https://www.t-mobile.com/responsibility/privacy/fraud-spam/s...
Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?
#34I 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…
This still lets people on that list wake you up after hours unless you take manual action.
I believe apple has a new call fitering API, but of course you don't have a way of really knowing what apps do with their permissions.
Apple should give you the ability to firewall apps from any net access.
Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?
#35There are many apps that do the same, at least on Android I've personally tried, but i guess should be the case on iPhone too.
Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?
#36I 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…
This still lets people on that list wake you up after hours unless you take manual action. I believe apple has a new call fitering API, but of course you don't have a way of really knowing what apps do with their permissions. Apple should give you the ability to firewall apps from any net access.
Yeah, in my case that is what I want. There is only a handful of family that can get through. But, if they are calling at 3am, it is very likely an emergency. If this becomes a problem, I'd just ask them not to call at 3am. I haven't had any issues though.
Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?
#37I use callcentric for voip and it allows all non-whitelist numbers to fall through to ‘press random digit to connect’. That gets rid of spam calls for me.
Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?
#38I use callcentric for voip and it allows all non-whitelist numbers to fall through to ‘press random digit to connect’. That gets rid of spam calls for me.
nice !
Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?
#39They used to, before the Android/iOS takeover of the industry.
Competition was nice.
Re: Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list?
#40Oh, easy. Collection agencies. Collection agencies are a vital part of the capitalist financial apparatus. Banks rely on them to enforce loan term agreements, and in turn defend them when in negotiation with e.g. Apple, when e.g. negotiating agreements regarding e.g. Apple Pay. I suspect (but cannot prove) an elaborate leaning on mobile companies to keep nonconsensual cold calls possible. Look for this state-of-affai…
Downvoters, why do you disagree? I'm sincere and I believe myself to be correct.