Ask HN: Why can’t I block all incoming calls that aren’t in my contact list? • Hacker News Board

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

#221

Post by jpeeler » Wed, Jan 30, 2019, 2:49 PM UTC

Android (not familiar with iPhone at all) has solved the problem of blocking unwanted calls, but has it intertwined with "do not disturb", which also affects notifications. I think we'd all enjoy having the feature separated out so that phone calls can be filtered as desired without assuming a silent/lesser mode needs enabling.

On an unrelated note, I've many times wished the phone protocol was upgraded to send metadata of your choosing along with the caller ID. Not even asking for a standard, because it'd probably suck. Just provide the means to send some optional data along with the call (which could ultimately put the nail in the coffin of land lines). The primary use case I had in mind would be to authenticate identity (since caller ID can be spoofed), but I'm sure a bunch of new uses would be utilized.

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

#222

Post by freehunter » Wed, Jan 30, 2019, 2:49 PM UTC

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've been getting a lot of spam calls where they call, immediately hang up, and then call back from the same number. I assume it's to get around do not disturb.

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

#223

Post by tones411 » Wed, Jan 30, 2019, 2:50 PM UTC

ubermonkey wrote: post #208

I'm using an app on my iPhone called RoboKiller, and HOLY CRAP has it cut my spam calls to virtually nil. It's worth looking into for sure.

I tried that. But redirecting my phone number to a different service made me concerned.

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

#224

Post by crankylinuxuser » Wed, Jan 30, 2019, 2:50 PM UTC

My solution for Android is to do the following

1. Set system ringtone to "nothing" 2. Set ringtones for people I want to not miss 3. Suppress annoying notifications

Takes care of most problems.

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

#225

Post by chooseaname » Wed, Jan 30, 2019, 2:51 PM UTC

StavrosK wrote: post #211

skykooler wrote: post #210

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google Voice offers this as an option; they're fairly big.

They have a "Press 1 to be connected" option? Where?

Not who you're replying to, but I just looked and the only option I see is you can turn on screening and so when you pick up, you hear the person's name and can decide to take the call or not.

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

#226

Post by wittedhaddock » Wed, Jan 30, 2019, 2:51 PM UTC

joshstrange wrote: post #101

wittedhaddock wrote: post #62

My name is James, I work for Community Phone, a nationwide cell phone company. Show of hands: if we opened up this feature for you to control this filter for yourself or your loved ones, holding all else constant (price and coverage), would that be sufficient to cause a switch to try out an alternate provider?

James, your service looks interesting but your data plans seem very low (in size, not price). 1, 2, 4GB plans with $5/0.5GB overage costs?

Right. Most people people just sign up for our $25 plan for unlimited talk and text with 1 fast gigabyte of data, and overage 100mbs for $1 + sales taxes

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

#227

Post by tones411 » Wed, Jan 30, 2019, 2:52 PM UTC

adim86 wrote: post #151

Although at first glance this sounds like a no brainer and a little confusing why we are not given the power to have a whitelist system on our phones I think this feature is a terrible idea. This is the same as saying, why can we not bounce all emails that have not been stored in our email address book. This one feature has the ability to destroy modern communication as we know it. Hear me out. If you all have notice…

Opt in. Problem solved.

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

#228

Post by paulie_a » Wed, Jan 30, 2019, 2:53 PM UTC

tones411 wrote: post #213

kd5bjo wrote: post #191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

re #2: They can leave a voicemail; I'll listen to it and call back if necessary.

Going back and listening to voicemails of spam is more time consuming than just answering it at the time it comes in.

I wish I could ban the hundreds of 2-4 second voicemails I get a week. actually ban the number too.

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

#229

Post by wittedhaddock » Wed, Jan 30, 2019, 2:54 PM UTC

WrtCdEvrydy wrote: post #97

wittedhaddock wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hi meetuu, thanks very much for your thoughtful response. I totally can relate to your desire for that feature and I hope you do not feel ashamed for it. Your phone is a personal device, and it ought to exist to serve your personal preferences so that you may live the best possible life with the thing (toleration or enjoyment)! I think it can be confusing now, that they have become so impersonally social, that we can…

Interesting, got any family plans?

Absolutely. Our most popular family plans involve two unlimited everything plans for the kids ($45 each for two, or $50 for one) and then a $35 2gb plan for the parents with an additional line of unlimited t&t for $10 sharing that 2gb pool, or $45 + $90 = $135 plus taxes and fcc fees for the 4 lines.

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

#230

Post by tones411 » Wed, Jan 30, 2019, 2:54 PM UTC

jzl wrote: post #74

wyred wrote: post #49

What if it was a legitimate emergency? Like if someone used your number as an emergency contact. Or some hospital in the world trying to contact you because someone you know got hospitalized (touch wood).

But that's pretty much already a problem because most people, myself included, no longer answer calls from unknown numbers, unless we are expecting one. And my patience even for that is running thin -- more than once in the last few months I've been expecting an incoming call (e.g. Lyft driver) and have picked up an unknown number only to be greeted by spam. If a legitimate business or other entity wants to get throu…

Right. If I don’t know the number I don’t answer it anyway.