4 ms·

An idea: Would it be possible to use phone number “extension” conventions to create a shared secret key that verifies that the caller is a trusted contact? Let

An idea: Would it be possible to use phone number “extension” conventions to create a shared secret key that verifies that the caller is a trusted contact? Let’s say I’m at the DR’s office and I’d like them to call me with my test results. Before giving them my phone number, I pull out my phone, open the phone app, and tap the “new trusted contact extension” button. It then displays the text “ext 47901” and prompts me to input a contact name. Then, when I give the front desk my phone number, I give “5558081111*47901”. One could then have a setting on the phone for “send non-trusted contacts to voicemail”. Is this feasible from a technical standpoint? I think the motivation would be there (in the us at least) socially. I’d generate these ext numbers for close friends and family and whenever a business asks for my number. My inspiration was the Gmail “+” email address thing that allows one to create infinite sub-email addresses for specific purposes ie myemail+newsletters@gmail.com for easy filtering.

galdosdi 4y ago
A similar idea that a friend of mine implemented is, when he gets called, the caller hears this message "Thanks for calling (name); press one to be connected immediately" This filters out pretty much all spam!
- thewebcount 4y ago
  It probably filters out legit calls, too. I used to have an answering machine (in the late 90s or early 2000's) that allowed you to have voice mailboxes for different people. We had it set up so you could "Press 1 to leave a message for (me), Press 2 to leave a message for (my spouse)". It was smart enough that if the caller didn't press a number, it would still record a message and put it into a catch-all category. Literally every call, even from friends and relatives, went into the catch-all category. I tried calling our phone from a friend's house and testing it out to make sure I hadn't set it up incorrectly. It worked just fine, but nobody ever pressed any number. They just heard, "Hi, we're not at home..." then ignored everything else and waited until they heard a beep.

galdosdi 4y ago

A similar idea that a friend of mine implemented is, when he gets called, the caller hears this message "Thanks for calling (name); press one to be connected immediately" This filters out pretty much all spam!

thewebcount 4y ago
It probably filters out legit calls, too. I used to have an answering machine (in the late 90s or early 2000's) that allowed you to have voice mailboxes for different people. We had it set up so you could "Press 1 to leave a message for (me), Press 2 to leave a message for (my spouse)". It was smart enough that if the caller didn't press a number, it would still record a message and put it into a catch-all category. Literally every call, even from friends and relatives, went into the catch-all category. I tried calling our phone from a friend's house and testing it out to make sure I hadn't set it up incorrectly. It worked just fine, but nobody ever pressed any number. They just heard, "Hi, we're not at home..." then ignored everything else and waited until they heard a beep.