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I hardly use my phone anymore. More than half of the calls I receive are robocalls. I'd get rid of phone service if I could still call 911.

ParadoxOryx 10y ago
You can! The FCC requires wireless providers to transmit all 911 calls, including those from phones with no service. https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/911-wireless-services https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/911-wireless-services
- chatmasta 10y ago
  I wonder if it would be possible to somehow "tunnel" external calls through this.
  - puddintane 10y ago
    One would think they should have means to prevent that considering they can restrict access to call forwarding?
- jackcosgrove 10y ago
  Awesome! I've already "cut the cord". Soon I might "snip the SIM".
  - wesleytodd 10y ago
    lol, I like this, "snip the sim".
  - 5555624 10y ago
    If you pull your SIM and then turn on the phone, you should get a message saying it can only be used in emergencies. If I pull my SIMM, it scrolls "No SIM Inserted | Emergency calls only" across the top of the lock screen.
tdb7893 10y ago
you can call 911 even without a sim card
azhenley 10y ago
You can still call 911. Take your SIM card out and give it a shot (kidding, don't...).
MrFoof 10y ago
Sadly, in my case, it's closer to 90-95%. The new rule is if I don't know who it is via caller ID (by having an existing contact show), I immediately decline the call. If they leave no voicemail, that's it. If they leave a voicemail, I listen. 95% of those are the robocaller messages, in which then the number is added to a robocaller contact that is blocked -- and now contains close to 300 phone numbers.
- beachstartup 10y ago
  most people i know just let their voicemail box fill up so nobody can leave new messages. i think it's a technology on its last legs, unless someone can save it with a great new UI. anyone who knows you will text you.
- berberous 10y ago
  Do people never call you, or do you really receive that many robocalls? Is your number listed publicly anywhere? I have an AT&T cell and a Google Voice number and I get maybe 1 spam call per month on my cell and 0 on my Google Voice. Might be worth changing your phone number.
- bigjimmyk3 10y ago
  The problem with this approach is that Caller ID is a lie, so they have an infinite supply of phone numbers to use. Source: received several calls from 123-456-7890.
maxerickson 10y ago
Quickly checking I don't find a definitive source, but I am under the impression that a cell phone with no service plan can still call 911 (as long as a tower is in range). You can also look at cheaper cell phone plans. Some of the prepaid ones are ~$40 a year if you don't care about using it much. You could just turn off the ringer.

ParadoxOryx 10y ago

You can! The FCC requires wireless providers to transmit all 911 calls, including those from phones with no service. https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/911-wireless-services https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/911-wireless-services

chatmasta 10y ago
I wonder if it would be possible to somehow "tunnel" external calls through this.
- puddintane 10y ago
  One would think they should have means to prevent that considering they can restrict access to call forwarding?
jackcosgrove 10y ago
Awesome! I've already "cut the cord". Soon I might "snip the SIM".
- wesleytodd 10y ago
  lol, I like this, "snip the sim".
- 5555624 10y ago
  If you pull your SIM and then turn on the phone, you should get a message saying it can only be used in emergencies. If I pull my SIMM, it scrolls "No SIM Inserted | Emergency calls only" across the top of the lock screen.

tdb7893 10y ago

you can call 911 even without a sim card

azhenley 10y ago

You can still call 911. Take your SIM card out and give it a shot (kidding, don't...).

MrFoof 10y ago

Sadly, in my case, it's closer to 90-95%. The new rule is if I don't know who it is via caller ID (by having an existing contact show), I immediately decline the call. If they leave no voicemail, that's it. If they leave a voicemail, I listen. 95% of those are the robocaller messages, in which then the number is added to a robocaller contact that is blocked -- and now contains close to 300 phone numbers.

beachstartup 10y ago
most people i know just let their voicemail box fill up so nobody can leave new messages. i think it's a technology on its last legs, unless someone can save it with a great new UI. anyone who knows you will text you.
berberous 10y ago
Do people never call you, or do you really receive that many robocalls? Is your number listed publicly anywhere? I have an AT&T cell and a Google Voice number and I get maybe 1 spam call per month on my cell and 0 on my Google Voice. Might be worth changing your phone number.
bigjimmyk3 10y ago
The problem with this approach is that Caller ID is a lie, so they have an infinite supply of phone numbers to use. Source: received several calls from 123-456-7890.

maxerickson 10y ago

Quickly checking I don't find a definitive source, but I am under the impression that a cell phone with no service plan can still call 911 (as long as a tower is in range). You can also look at cheaper cell phone plans. Some of the prepaid ones are ~$40 a year if you don't care about using it much. You could just turn off the ringer.