Any Rumors Yet on Call Blocking Feature?

Posts: 114 · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 1:51 pm Post subject:

mikey00 wrote:

Thanks for the tip on VoicePlus. I will keep them in mind. Right now TeleBlend has seemed to stabilize with the exception of a caller ID issue, so I will stick with them a while longer and keep watching for Vonage to get selective call blocking. I have always heard good things about Vonage and hope they eventually get it.

It's a small world???? Screen name of outrun with real name of Craig looks like a former RX300 owner.

#1. It's VoicePulse, not VoicePlus. Funny, my wife keeps saying VoicePlus too.
#2. Former RX300 owner? I should tell my wife that her car was sold. Smile

Where did you "see" me?

-Craig

Posts: 293 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Jan 22, 2006 Posts: 293

strongj wrote:

The feature I would like to see added to this is the ability to input your number manually if Vonage detects it's blocked so that the call can still go through.

Whenever I call the in-laws, I always input their number. I suspect they are getting used to it now and probably know who is calling now. But I know it used to drive them nuts.

Cool

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 22, 2008 Posts: 1

The service voip.com has both selective call reject (block) and selective call acceptance.

This CAN'T be difficult to do...

Don't know anything else about voip.com - do any other readers have experience with them???

Posts: 38 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Feb 10, 2005 Posts: 38

I too have been waiting for the Selective Call Blocking feature. Has anyone tried PhoneTray that uses your PC's dailup modem to do Selective Call Blocking?

http://www.phonetray.com/ptfree_features.htm

It's free but your modem needs to support callerid. If it works well this could be a good interim solution.

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: May 07, 2008 Posts: 2

twelve01748 wrote:

I too have been waiting for the Selective Call Blocking feature. Has anyone tried PhoneTray that uses your PC's dailup modem to do Selective Call Blocking?

http://www.phonetray.com/ptfree_features.htm

It's free but your modem needs to support callerid. If it works well this could be a good interim solution.

I just read this post and tried it out. It works. I have Free Phonetray in my XP tray here and it is logging the incoming numbers and Caller IDs.

This is a cheapo, unused modem I had in this machine, so if it works I'd guess most modems that aren't too old will have the CID feature. After you install the app and get your vonage line plugged into your modem line input and the modem output plugged into you phone, go into Phonetray Settings and set things up, find your "ready" modem, hit the Fix CID button and do what it says. Very nice, I got blocking now.

Posts: 38 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Feb 10, 2005 Posts: 38

This solution is so good, you shouldn't consider it an interim solution.

Newegg has a compatible modem for PhoneTray for sale right now for $10.99 with free shipping at the moment:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16825130009

Pretty cheap way to get Selective Call Blocking you can easily control.

PLEASE NOTE: the modem listed above only disconnects the caller. If you want to send the wav files you need to get the Hiro modem recommended in the FAQs on the Phonetray web webiste:
http://www.phonetray.com/ptfree_faq.htm#_What_modem_do_you_recommend_for_PhoneTray_Free

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: May 07, 2008 Posts: 2

It works so far as logging goes, but in other ways it is not a complete replacement for blocking at the voip telco.

You are still hearing your phone ring until Phonetray catches it, it is not true blocking in that sense, it is still drawing your attention each call. You might turn the ringer off on your phone and have Phonetray play a ring through your computer speakers on the calls you want to recieve. I might do that.

On my setup I have to set it to two rings for the "Zap" feature to kick in, if I set it for one ring it will just go on ringing. There is no zero-ring selection.

And the response voice wavs that Zap feature uses are not sent to the modem under the usual default modem installation, you'd have to hook up the modem audio internally. I have yet to get into that myself but as it is they will hear nothing, just an open line. (Which might be even more annoying to them, so maybe I'll leave it.)

And this is only working so long as your computer is running. Good for 24/7 computers like mine, otherwise not so good.

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: May 17, 2008 Posts: 1

Now we're talking-- VoicePulse has some VERY interesting filtering features, and despite being on the nocall list, I'm getting hammered by "survey" companies so smarter blocking than just "anonymous" is a must. Lookin' good, thanks for the tip...

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Aug 30, 2008 Posts: 2

I have been with Vonage since February 7, 2005. I have been pretty happy with the service thus far, however I am increasing interested in having the ability to selectively block calls. I recently loaded VONaLink (free 15 day preview), but am not able to use the call filters because I am still on an old iMac that is not capable of upgrading to leopard (minimum requirement for this function for mac users). What I really need is a new computer! In the meantime I am researching any other VoIP services that offer call filters. Voicepulse offers excellent call filters, from what I read on their website, and the reviews seem to be pretty good for the service overall. It is possible to configure filters to funnel certain numbers directly to voice mail, some to "number has been disconnected" and still others to a busy-signal. You can also configure selected numbers, like from family members, to bypass the "do not disturb" privacy setting and ring through. Seems like a deal to me! The only problem is that my current number is not portable to their service at this time. It may be soon; I just signed up for notification of LNP (local number portability) and will receive $20.00 discount when it becomes available. Do you hear that Vonage? Offer this service soon or you will loose me!!

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 31, 2009 Posts: 1

any news on this subject?