|
|
Block Unwanted Calls
When I was growing up, it was very difficult to block unwanted calls. I don't know if they had come up with caller ID yet, but if they did I hadn't ever heard about it and neither had my parents. Basically, blocking unwanted calls was impossible. The only way to really do it was to screen your calls by listening to the messages on your answering machine. You could either try to pick up when you heard a familiar voice, or just call back the people you wanted to call and leave everyone else in the lurch.
When caller ID came around, it was a big step towards blocking unwanted calls. After all, using the answering machine trick had been a big inconvenience. It meant that you would not be able to pick up before letting it go to machine, and that you had to risk having a friend hang up thinking you were not there if you wanted to screen your phone calls. With caller ID, you can easily block unwanted calls by simply refusing to pick up if you do know the number or if it is someone you don't want to talk to.
For a long time, I've been pretty happy with caller ID. I have a cell phone, so I don't even really need to think about it. It comes built-in with any cell phone, after all. Nonetheless, I've been pretty excited about the new developments I have seen recently. Apparently, you can get software to block unwanted calls on your cell phone so that you don't even have to hear it ring. It can either only ring for certain numbers, or simply block a whole list of numbers at the press of a button. Some of the software is pretty sophisticated too. Apparently, some of it is queued into survey databases and places like that. Basically the software knows the people who are likely to call you for no good reason, and can filter them out before you even have to deal with them. You won't even see the phone call appear on your caller ID!
I still haven't decided whether or not I want to block unwanted calls this way. I am going to download the software tonight and give it a shot, but I'm a little bit nervous. A lot of people like to have privacy above all else, but I sort of want to know who is calling me even if it means having to listen to a few unnecessary rings every now and then. Still, it is always exciting to try out the newest gadget.
Summary
It used to be the only way to block unwanted calls was to have an answering machine pick up the call instead of you. Not very handy! Nowadays we have caller id to help identify callers before we answer the phone. Cell phones have features which allow you to block certain numbers or a range of numbers for privacy and peace of mind.
Related Articles
Search Cell Numbers
phone Directories
Related Sites
|
|
|
|