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Comment by stretchwithme | Hacker News Reader

I'd love it if my cell phone auto-screened calls from numbers not in my address book. Give them a special message that explains the only way they'll get through is to leave a message.

Or that they can register their number in a public registry that fully explains who they are and then I can decide whether to take calls from that number.

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I never answer calls, ever. My voicemail suggests sending me an email. If the caller doesn't, it's like it never happened. The only reason I even have a SIM card is for data/tethering.

When I found out that I could take the "home internet via mobile network" SIM card and put it in my phone, I was so happy.

"But you won't be able to receive calls!", the salesperson objected.

"Perfect."

I'm the same but I also disabled my voicemail so the phone just rings forever until they hang up.

I only answer the call if it is my parents calling.

You can sort of do it with an iPhone. Put it on Do Not Disturb except for your contacts. But that will block alerts in addition to calls. I do use that setting at night when I'm traveling. Otherwise I end up sometimes getting junk calls in the middle of the night because of timezone differences.

Google Voice sort of has this feature. There's a feature to prompt unknown callers for their name which will then show up on your caller ID.

And what stops spam callers from saying "Grandma"?

Excellent idea, there's a huge market for new phone management apps it seems, what are we waiting for

Mostly no market, given most people would be unwilling to pay for them

We also could probably use a system of codes to communicate with automated calling systems so they give up quicker or are able to negotiate a fee they can pay to talk with you. Or leave a text message if you're open to that.

> I'd love it if my cell phone auto-screened calls from numbers not in my address book. Give them a special message that explains the only way they'll get through is to leave a message.

This feature existed (still exists?) for land lines as far back as 2000. It was an add-on service offered by MCI when they started to sell local service in NY and a few other markets. I imagine that it was probably available beyond MCI, but this is speculation.

Source: worked there at the time

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