New Gadget Blocks 'Spam' Phone Calls 274
Smivs writes "The BBC report on a new gizmo that can block/filter spam phone calls. The system basically intercepts all calls. If it recognizes them as a friend or a member of the user's family — numbers on the so-called star list created by the user — it lets them through as normal.
If the caller's number is on a zap list — numbers of telemarketers or other nuisance callers — the device answers it, and all future calls from that number, with an automated message which means the phone does not ring at all.
If the system doesn't recognize the caller's number, or the caller withholds their number, it asks them who they are, puts them on hold and then rings the user's phone.
The user has the option of taking the call, having the system take a message, or they can reject the call and add the number to the 'zap' list.
Users can add callers to their 'star' list by pressing the star button on their phone at any point during a call." So wait, they can't spam me twice? If I press a button? And if they actually show their phone number on my caller ID? What about the auto insurance scammers that hit me 10x/week?
Partially useful (Score:5, Insightful)
For me, this would cut out the "firefighters" and "police" charitable funds, and a couple of others that call locally. But the ones that really irk me are the "lower your credit card interest rates" that I get every few days, and it's different caller id each time. Usually falsified caller id. So I would still end up getting about the same number of nuisance calls.
What would be optimal would be the FCC doing their job and shutting the scammers down, but I'm not holding my breath.
Nothing new here (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Hey, we could use that in the U.S. too (Score:3, Insightful)
The only criticism that I have is that it rings my phone at all (for an unrecognized number). I would prefer a system where an unknown caller (those not on the white list) has to first identify themselves as a real person (by keying some numbers) and then leave a message.
This would be a great option for it, however it could be looked at as annoying for the caller. The reason I got rid of my land line when I moved is because of all of the telemarketers, robo-calls, etc. It got to the point where I wouldn't answer unless I recognized the number anyway. If it was an important call, they would probably leave a message anyway.
End vs. flash (Score:3, Insightful)
What really infuriates me about them is that I can't seem to hang up on them (if you try to hang up and pick up the phone later, the message is still playing).
How long did you leave the phone on-hook? You might have to hold it a few more seconds so that the exchange can determine that you're trying to end the call and not perform a flash [wikipedia.org].
Re:Asterisk (Score:1, Insightful)
This is aimed at the home market - which I don't think can be bothered to set-up an VoIP Server.
Re:Hey, we could use that in the U.S. too (Score:3, Insightful)
That works great, except for all the organizations that managed to get themselves exempted from the Do Not Call list. Political campaigns being the biggest offender. And retards from both sides are calling 1-2 times an hour from about 7-9pm almost every evening since August. Isn't living in a swing-state fun?
Voicemail (Score:3, Insightful)
Every couple of days I get a "spam" message from a telemarketer, left directly on my voicemail. The phone never actually rings. That's about as frequent as real telemarketer calls. Doesn't sound like this system would stop those, unfortunately.
Re:Hey, we could use that in the U.S. too (Score:5, Insightful)
I've been using Vonage for quite awhile now, signed up for the do not call registry, and if I don't recognize the number or it is not shown, I simply do not answer. Life has been much simpler doing that.
Truly, if it is important they will leave a message. I refuse to let my life be ruled by the ringing of a phone or the whims of another person who wants my attention. Leave a message, I'll get back to you ... sometime... if you're nice.
The Only Thing I Have to Say - Where Can I Buy One (Score:3, Insightful)
Wait where have I seen this before? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Hey, we could use that in the U.S. too (Score:4, Insightful)
Annoying for the caller? Too fucking bad. If you can't be bothered to enter the numbers, then I can't be bothered to answer the call.
I've always dreamed about such a device, basically a little captcha for the phone. I work from home and get tons of robo calls, and even if it's not a robot talking on the phone, marketing firms usually have some machine dialing the call and then hand it off to someone once the machine determines there's a human on the line. Ever wonder why you say hello and it takes the person on the other end a few seconds to respond? That's why. Phone captcha would eliminate these calls... at least for awhile until someone beats the captcha.
Re:Hey, we could use that in the U.S. too (Score:2, Insightful)
Not I.
I'd like to have certain programs of mine call my cell phone to alert me to problems with pre-recorded messages. So far I've been too lazy to adapt them to do such, but my point is that this is something I would consider useful. By no stretch of the imagination do I believe it should ever be considered a felony to automatically contact a person.
Re:Asterisk (Score:3, Insightful)
With a machine shop you can build a car. Most people prefer to buy one ready made though.
Re:Nothing new here (Score:3, Insightful)