Is it possible to Block a Tel. Number (INCOMING Calls)?

[moon]

Hi,

I am wondering if it is possible to Block Tel. Numbers (INCOMING calls from certain numbers) with FreePhoneLine VOIP service?

My question is for both softphone and ATA. If you can have this feature (Call Blocking) for your ATA phone line, it can be very useful to stop most of the repeating computerized advertizing calls (or faxes).

Currently I have only softphone, but I am thinking to get an ATA, and this feature sometimes can be very useful.

Thanks

[FONGO_kris]

Currently freephoneline.ca does not offer the option to block numbers, we have a blacklist option in the software phone but it only works when the software is the only thing running (eg. not with an ATA as well). I do believe our developers (Steve) are working on a global blacklist to be integrated into your web interfaces.

[JulioQc]

Hello,

I share moon's request . This would be a great asset to this already awesome service!

JulioQc

[TheHardy]

I just re-read this thread and I am curious as to what is being asked...

1) Are you asking to block your OUTBOUND caller-id on calls that YOU place, a-la the [*]67 option that most of us are familiar with?
2) Blocking (or disallowing) INCOMING calls from certain numbers?

Two completely different issues altogether.

#1 is not supported by FPL (there are several posts on this topic, do a quick search). #2 is partially supported thru the black-list option that Kris mentions.

[moon]

I just re-read this thread and I am curious as to what is being asked...

1) Are you asking to block your OUTBOUND caller-id on calls that YOU place, a-la the [*]67 option that most of us are familiar with?
2) Blocking (or disallowing) INCOMING calls from certain numbers?

Two completely different issues altogether.

#1 is not supported by FPL (there are several posts on this topic, do a quick search). #2 is partially supported thru the black-list option that Kris mentions.

Hello,
I mean #2: Blocking (or disallowing) INCOMING calls from certain numbers
(I just made some chage in my main post to make my question more clear).
Sometimes there are computerized advertizing calls (or faxes) that are very annoying (and mostly you cannot speak to anyone),
and you cannot stop them from calling you either, unless you have the Call Blocking feature to stop the caller(s) from calling you anymore.
So this can be a very useful feature if you have it for your ATA phone line.

[TheHardy]

I think that Kris nailed the answer then. For the softphone, there is a blacklist option -- but it requires that you KNOW the number that you wish to block from calling you.

Kris also mentioned that the development team may be working on something to integrate into the web-interface that would allow ATA users to blacklist numbers as well (I assume that this would also then encompass the softphone users).

Thanks for clarifying what you were after too, btw, as there are oftentimes misunderstandings.

[boon]

Hello,
I mean #2: Blocking (or disallowing) INCOMING calls from certain numbers
(I just made some chage in my main post to make my question more clear).
Sometimes there are computerized advertizing calls (or faxes) that are very annoying (and mostly you cannot speak to anyone),
and you cannot stop them from calling you either, unless you have the Call Blocking feature to stop the caller(s) from calling you anymore.
So this can be a very useful feature if you have it for your ATA phone line.

@moon. I'm able to block certain incoming calls using ATA selectively. Sales and advertizing calls are annoying.

Please refer to discussions here.
http://forum.freephoneline.ca/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2868

[TheHardy]

@moon. I'm able to block certain incoming calls using ATA selectively. Sales and advertizing calls are annoying.

Please refer to discussions here.
http://forum.freephoneline.ca/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2868

I went thru and re-read that post; I thought that I had read something about it prior!

Be aware that it is not TRUE "call blocking", rather it is using the selective call-fwd on the PAP2T to send the caller immediately to voicemail. It is correctly assumed, however, that most telemarketers or other non-desireables will NOT bother leaving a voicemail, so this may be a decent work-around solution.

If you use another router other than the PAP2T, then you may have to find another solution also, as the thread is specific to that one.

<edit for spelling error>

[boon]

TheHardy is correct. At least all these non-desireables calls may not rings during the middle of the night (hopefully).

[TheHardy]

Yes -- I just wanted to make sure that the shortcomings were clear, and that it was not taken as being EXACTLY what moon was looking for.

It should also be noted that the solution as posted had less than 100% success rate even for explicitly entered 'blocked' numbers. As with all things, use at your own risk, your mileage may vary, and contents may settle during shipping...

[moon]

@moon. I'm able to block certain incoming calls using ATA selectively. Sales and advertizing calls are annoying.

What boon is saying is interesting. I think boon is speaking about Linksys PAP2T?
Am I right?
If the answer is yes, I have D-Link DVG-1120M VOIP Gateway, so I am not sure if it can work the same way as PAP2T.

Currently I have VOIP home tel. number with Primus Canada (but now I am thinking about switching it to FreePhoneLine.ca) and I am using the same ATA (D-Link DVG-1120M) that I bought from Primus several years ago.

I also have Blocked annoying advertising calls several times before by connecting to my Primus Talkbroadband online account, and blocked the number(s) from my online account (of course, I think, the caller has to have a number to block it - I think this feature is not possible for unknown numbers). I am not sure if my D-Link ATA is capable of blocking the numbers directly from the gateway (the same as PAP2T)!

Furthermore: If there is any person who has had experience with both the Primus Canada VOIP (Talkbroadband) and using ATA with FreePhoneLine.ca, I appreciate giving me comparison between the two services.

I have had my VOIP Talkbroadband account with Primus Canada for more than 5 years, but Primus has increased the monthly price from almost one year ago (despite of the fact that by expanding VIOP technology, the prices has to be go lower!), so this is the main reason that I am thinking to switch to FreePhoneLine.ca, but I am worry about comparison of the services such as voice quality, and steadiness (consistency) of the service.

With Primus TalkBroadband, I get 18 features that I have never used many of them, but one of them is Call Blocking which I think can be very handy sometimes.

I appreciate any comment about comparison of the two services.

[boon]

Yes, I'm referring to Linksys PAP2T. I believe most of Linksys ATA can be configure via "User1" or "User2" tabs for the "Call Blocking" or rather "Call Forwarding". What I did was to check from my Calls Logs to identified the "unknown #" and then enter to the ATA.

Haven't use Primus before and I've no comments on this service.

[Azenha]

I just moved over to FreePhoneLine from PhonePower with whom I had been with for the last seven years. PhonePower's web portal offered the ability for clients to maintain a Caller Block list with options on how to treat those numbers that were added to the list. For example, a particular number could be programmed to go immediately to voicemail, whereas another could be a programmed to get a busy signal and yet another could be programmed so as to be call-forwarded.

It would be great if FreePhoneLine could add similar features in the future. Possibly as a revenue generator, clients (such as myself) could be charged a nominal amount for such features - sort of like what Bell does with feature add-ons (but please don't overcharge like what Bell does). I, for one, would likely subscribe to this feature.