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A Whitelist for Phone Calls?
javacowboy asks: "I've been getting lots of strange phone calls lately. Most of the time, my phone would ring less than three times and then stop before I can answer. Then, a couple of nights ago, I got a call at 3am in the morning. It had stopped ringing by the time I woke up. *69 revealed a number with an area code of 632, which does not exist. I called the number, and the call would not complete past the area code. I want a product or service with which I can set up a -whitelist- of numbers that I allow to make my phone ring. Any number not on the list, or an unlisted phone number, tries to call me, and the phone doesn't ring at all. I would pay as much for this service as I would pay to have my number removed from the phone directory. Is something like this possible? If so, how would I do it?"
I'm getting fed up with: wrong numbers; callers hang up on me as soon as I speak into the phone; telemarketers; crank calls; late night calls; people I know that I no longer wish to speak to; etc. My telco charges $8 a month for call display, which is exorbitant. Still, a call display won't prevent my phone from ringing. A do not call list will not prevent my phone from ringing. Getting my phone number removed from the phone directory will not prevent wrong numbers. How can filter out the calls that I don't want to deal with?"
I remember seeing a while ago a device that you can program with a passcode. If you know the passcode, it lets the call through, if not, it emits a fast-busy signal. Damned if i can find a link to it, though.
Looks like your mysterious 632 area code is really Manila, probably an outsourced call center in the Philipines.
Your topic is a Dupe, but a simple google search turned up these guys.
SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
I have two solutions:
1. If you're a geek, try to wrap your head around Asterisk - I'd have to think either it would have that functionality built in, and if not - wouldn't be too hard to tell it to pass whitelisted #s, but dump everything else to voicemail....
2. I use Broadvoice at home, and when I don't want to be disturbed, I *77 the phone. *78 unblocks it (takes it out of Do Not Disturb) - of course, this doesn't help when it's late at night and I don't do the *77 ahead of time, but I can make sure I don't get awoken again.
Both of these implementations almost require an internet connection. While you can purchase FXO modules for Asterisk, I've just not had the interest in making a go at it with a PSTN connection....
Another alternative - only one phone in our whole house rings. I sleep rather well, so I probably wouldn't hear it if it rang at night...
Karnal
Whitelists will prevent
1. your stranded grandma from calling you
2. friends calling from their friends house
3. that cute girl you just met
4. various official phone calls that you really needed to receive
Luckily, whitelists will still allow your mom to call from upstairs when dinner is ready.
The scripting for the extensions.conf file is more than powerful enough to have a CallerID based whitelist, heck, you can even have it database powered. You can have the Asterisk PBX do what ever you want. How about:
Step 1: Phone call comes in, Asterisk picks up
Step 2: If the CallerID is whitelisted, ring internal phone.
Step 3: If the CallerID is blank/unknown, prompt for CallerID or send to voicemail.
Step 4: If the CallerID is black listed - do whatever you want (perma-onhold, disconnect, fast busy, etc)
Its not hard, really. It would only take a few minutes to setup once you have asterisk running.
snowulf.com
The NYT had a very interesting article about Grandcentral.com, which I believe would whitelist and much more, if you sign up for them, which at the time, I believe was free. Here's the article.
Their people printed our number on their fliers. Most of the folks were nice when we told them they had the wrong number, but a few got really pissed and insisted that they had the right number. I really wanted to say after they "insisted" rudely for a few times, "OK, you got me! This really is the Marriot and because I, Joe Schmoo, gave you a hard time, you can have the presidential suite and a bottle of Dom every night - free of charge. Here's your confirmation #." And then I would then let them go.
My wife vetoed that. Sign....
I prefer Flambe as apposed flamebait.
I want a product or service with which I can set up a -whitelist- of numbers that I allow to make my phone ring. Any number not on the list, or an unlisted phone number, tries to call me, and the phone doesn't ring at all.
Many modern phones already have this feature, in the form of custom ring. Just set the numbers in your contact list that you would like to whitelist to have a ring, and set the default ring to silent.
I think you're talking about the Telezapper A quick google search turned up a nice privacy page with useful, although fairly obvious recommendations: http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs3-hrs2.htm
I'm not sure how this made it to the front page.
The easiest solution:
Go down to your local big box store & check out the various cordless phones. You'll find the ones with fancier base stations will allow you to deal with incoming calls however you like.
After the person has called. You just setup that # not to ring, to go directly to voicemail or if the phone supports it, it'll just hang up.
You don't even have to give up your corded phones & buy extra handsets.
[Fuck Beta]
o0t!
From the article you linked to, the very last item mentioned is 'Privacy Manager'. My brother had it (or something remarkably similar ... he said it was from the phone company, not a device) for a few years, before he just went and got his number un-listed.
... but he wasn't presented with the prompt to enter the code. (and of course, we were supposed to be picking him up from the airport, and he had changed flights, so it caused a bit of a problem).
The only time he ever had a problem was when he was waiting for a call from our step-father, who it seems had problems with his cell phone, and was trying to call from a pay phone, and kept getting blocked
And I know the incident happened more than 5 years ago, so it's been available for some time. (as I remember being slowed down at the security gate for carrying 3 knives, 2 cell phones and a PDA, but as I wasn't arrested, it must've been before Sept 2001)
Build it, and they will come^Hplain.
On my cell phone, I set custom rings for everyone in my address book. I can turn off the default ring on my phone by setting it to "alarm only". Anyone in my address book will still ring, anything else is silent. I just use this setting when I don't want to be disturbed. The only time I answer an unrecognized phone number is when I'm expecting to possibly get calls, for example right now when I'm looking for a job in another state. If it really is important, and I don't answer it because it's an unrecognize number, well that's what my voice mail is for. If it's really important, they'll leave a message and I'll call them back. I haven't had a telemarketing call in many years. In fact, I haven't even had to use my "alarm only" setting...only time I tried it was to test it.
Why not just leave the phone of the hook or unplug it from the wall overnight?
I am using a web-based service that, among other features, helps to control which calls will ring my phone(s): GrandCentral. It allows to define several groups of white-listed numbers with separate response behavior (ring, send to voicemail, etc.) and also includes a couple of different screening options. For dealing with known telemarketers they even offer to play a "number not in service" message, but most auto-dialers can't get past the call screening anyway. It's a free service while in beta, but they promise to keep basic features free indefinitely, including "unlimited inbound minutes, unlimited voicemail (up to 30 days old), and access to all of our core features". This NYT write-up describes a few of the options in more detail.