Where's my cell phone's "Away" mode/block list/etc? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

billege · 06-24-2005, 08:28 AM

I had some thoughts about my cell phone I wanted to bounce off all you'uns.

My wife and I don't have a land line ("home phone"), haven't for about 4 years now. We just have our two cells. I tell you that, because I suppose that makes us "heavy" cell users. Either way, I'm prretty familiar with what my phone can do, and what it can't. We both have newish phones, Samsung mma-700's. I tell you <i>that</i>, because my thoughts are about phone features. I thought these were pretty featured-up, but I want to know if anyone's ever seen a phone with the features I'm thinking about.

I want to know where my privacy features are! Trillian has more privacy than my phone does.

For the most part, caller ID works. Thus, the features that depend on it work. My phone rings with individualized rings for people I set it to, and cute pictures of them show on the external screen.

So where's my block feature?
Say I decide I'm tired of talking to someone, and I don't want to take thier calls. Why can't I block a number? Where's that feature? You'd think that'd be a basic, but it's not. How come?

Why do I have to let wrong numers wake me up at 3am?
What about correct number calls that wake me up at 9am?
I work an evening shift (thus I sleep until about 11am), and I don't want to hear the phone ring when the dr's office reminds me I have an appointment tommorow. BUT, I do want the phone to ring whenever my wife calls (as you never know when an emergency could happen). Why can't I set certain numbers to always ring, then put the phone into an "away" mode? In the "Away" mode, if you're not on my "allow" list, the phone simply doesn't ring, and you get my VM. Now that would be a useful feature. So where the heck is it?

What other "basic" features can you all think of for a cell/home phone to have? I mean, other than the abiltiy to make a freakin call anywhere, anytime...

la petite moi · 06-24-2005, 11:31 AM

When you are sleeping, put all calls on a very quiet ring tone (which I'm sure you can get these days). Use a loud obnoxious ringtone for your wife to wake you up. About blocking people, you can. I'm not quite sure, since I'm no cell phone expertise, but I remember a woman in my class saying that she blocked some telemarketers that were calling her cell.

billege · 06-25-2005, 07:54 AM

One of my pals had a pretty good idea. Set a "silent" ringtone as the default. Then set specific rings for those in your phonebook. Anyone not in the phonebook will get the default ringer, which convienently makes no noise. Now I just have to have him make me a silent ringtone, or learn how to make one myself.

Cuatela · 06-26-2005, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billege

One of my pals had a pretty good idea. Set a "silent" ringtone as the default. Then set specific rings for those in your phonebook. Anyone not in the phonebook will get the default ringer, which convienently makes no noise. Now I just have to have him make me a silent ringtone, or learn how to make one myself.

The only problem with that is if one of the people on your contact list is forced to call you from another phone that isn't in the contact list....

You might try contacting your service provider. They should be able to tell you if you can block numbers, and if so, how.

analog · 06-26-2005, 11:58 PM

Pretty much all cellular service providers can block individual numbers from being able to reach you, you just have to call up your customer service number and ask them to do so.

As for the phone, your friend has what is a widely used idea. You set the default to something you can live with- and in your case, sleep through- and then your individual numbers in your phone book get a real tone, and then they come through. That would be your "allow" list.

There's no way of preventing wrong numbers, so that's out. It's human error.

I don't have a landline either, they're useless. Haven't had one since 2000.

Martian · 06-27-2005, 10:29 AM

My phone has an away mode : the off button. When you're sleeping, turn the bloody thing off and I guarantee it won't wake you up. Since your wife is (presumably) in the room with you at the time you don't really need to worry about her calling.

Jinn · 06-27-2005, 11:09 AM

It sounds to me like billege isn't in the same room with his lady, as he's sleeping when she's not (11am).

Unfortunately for you, I think quality cameras and full sound ring-tones are the new "features" coming to cell phones soon, because they believe your problem can already be solved by current features.

Like everyone else has said: silent by default, special ring tones for special people. As for blocking, land lines have an ability built in to do this -- and I believe cell providers are required by law to be ABLE to do this. Calling them is a bit of a hassle, but I'm sure I would do if it someone was really obnoxious enough that I'd block them on my cell phone.

In addition, I really would like a cell phone more like Trillian.. "Set All Away", email notifications... transparancies.. mmmmm cell phone mmmm

06-24-2005, 08:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
billege Watcher Location: Ohio	Where's my cell phone's "Away" mode/block list/etc? I had some thoughts about my cell phone I wanted to bounce off all you'uns. My wife and I don't have a land line ("home phone"), haven't for about 4 years now. We just have our two cells. I tell you that, because I suppose that makes us "heavy" cell users. Either way, I'm prretty familiar with what my phone can do, and what it can't. We both have newish phones, Samsung mma-700's. I tell you <i>that</i>, because my thoughts are about phone features. I thought these were pretty featured-up, but I want to know if anyone's ever seen a phone with the features I'm thinking about. I want to know where my privacy features are! Trillian has more privacy than my phone does. For the most part, caller ID works. Thus, the features that depend on it work. My phone rings with individualized rings for people I set it to, and cute pictures of them show on the external screen. So where's my block feature? Say I decide I'm tired of talking to someone, and I don't want to take thier calls. Why can't I block a number? Where's that feature? You'd think that'd be a basic, but it's not. How come? Why do I have to let wrong numers wake me up at 3am? What about correct number calls that wake me up at 9am? I work an evening shift (thus I sleep until about 11am), and I don't want to hear the phone ring when the dr's office reminds me I have an appointment tommorow. BUT, I do want the phone to ring whenever my wife calls (as you never know when an emergency could happen). Why can't I set certain numbers to always ring, then put the phone into an "away" mode? In the "Away" mode, if you're not on my "allow" list, the phone simply doesn't ring, and you get my VM. Now that would be a useful feature. So where the heck is it? What other "basic" features can you all think of for a cell/home phone to have? I mean, other than the abiltiy to make a freakin call anywhere, anytime... __________________ I can sum up the clash of religion in one sentence: "My Invisible Friend is better than your Invisible Friend."

06-25-2005, 07:54 AM	#3 (permalink)
billege Watcher Location: Ohio	One of my pals had a pretty good idea. Set a "silent" ringtone as the default. Then set specific rings for those in your phonebook. Anyone not in the phonebook will get the default ringer, which convienently makes no noise. Now I just have to have him make me a silent ringtone, or learn how to make one myself. __________________ I can sum up the clash of religion in one sentence: "My Invisible Friend is better than your Invisible Friend."

06-27-2005, 10:29 AM	#6 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	My phone has an away mode : the off button. When you're sleeping, turn the bloody thing off and I guarantee it won't wake you up. Since your wife is (presumably) in the room with you at the time you don't really need to worry about her calling. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

06-27-2005, 11:09 AM	#7 (permalink)
Jinn Lover - Protector - Teacher Location: Seattle, WA	It sounds to me like billege isn't in the same room with his lady, as he's sleeping when she's not (11am). Unfortunately for you, I think quality cameras and full sound ring-tones are the new "features" coming to cell phones soon, because they believe your problem can already be solved by current features. Like everyone else has said: silent by default, special ring tones for special people. As for blocking, land lines have an ability built in to do this -- and I believe cell providers are required by law to be ABLE to do this. Calling them is a bit of a hassle, but I'm sure I would do if it someone was really obnoxious enough that I'd block them on my cell phone. In addition, I really would like a cell phone more like Trillian.. "Set All Away", email notifications... transparancies.. mmmmm cell phone mmmm __________________ "I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel

06-24-2005, 11:31 AM	#2 (permalink)
la petite moi Filling the Void. Location: California	When you are sleeping, put all calls on a very quiet ring tone (which I'm sure you can get these days). Use a loud obnoxious ringtone for your wife to wake you up. About blocking people, you can. I'm not quite sure, since I'm no cell phone expertise, but I remember a woman in my class saying that she blocked some telemarketers that were calling her cell.

06-26-2005, 11:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
analog Banned	Pretty much all cellular service providers can block individual numbers from being able to reach you, you just have to call up your customer service number and ask them to do so. As for the phone, your friend has what is a widely used idea. You set the default to something you can live with- and in your case, sleep through- and then your individual numbers in your phone book get a real tone, and then they come through. That would be your "allow" list. There's no way of preventing wrong numbers, so that's out. It's human error. I don't have a landline either, they're useless. Haven't had one since 2000.