Mobile Phone Technology... [sort of writerly]

[Vermilion]

As in... I need to know something about mobile(cell) phones for my current story and google is being very unhelpful.

Is it possible to block a certain number from calling one on your mobile? What message might that caller get? Would it have been possible to do this nine or ten years ago?

thanks guys

x
V

 

[Weird Harold]

Is it possible to block a certain number from calling one on your mobile? What message might that caller get? Would it have been possible to do this nine or ten years ago?

From a purely technological standpoint, the nature of cell technology would make it easier to block specific numbers than with conventional, land-line, technology.

I suspect that the message would be something on the order of "The number you have dialed has blocked your call" -- but the nature of the technology permits the possibility of personalized rejection notices -- much the same way that you can assign personalized ring-tones.

Nine or ten years ago, I doubt that call-blocking would have been widely available, because Caller ID technology wasn't completely universal yet -- call-blocking is dependent on having the information provided by Caller ID.

A feature that couldn't work reliably wouldn't be much of a selling point, but the charge for incoming as well as outgoing calls would make the ability to block any calls at all a desireable "extra" so there was likely one or two providers who offered early versions of call-blocking.

 

[Vermilion]

From a purely technological standpoint, the nature of cell technology would make it easier to block specific numbers than with conventional, land-line, technology.

I suspect that the message would be something on the order of "The number you have dialed has blocked your call" -- but the nature of the technology permits the possibility of personalized rejection notices -- much the same way that you can assign personalized ring-tones.

Nine or ten years ago, I doubt that call-blocking would have been widely available, because Caller ID technology wasn't completely universal yet -- call-blocking is dependent on having the information provided by Caller ID.

A feature that couldn't work reliably wouldn't be much of a selling point, but the charge for incoming as well as outgoing calls would make the ability to block any calls at all a desireable "extra" so there was likely one or two providers who offered early versions of call-blocking.

So something along the lines of 'the number you have dialled has not been recognised' or 'this number is not available' would work?

Anyway, it's fiction so it doesn't matter if I make it up a little, as long as it's vaguely believable...
Thanks WH

x
V

 

[Weird Harold]

So something along the lines of 'the number you have dialled has not been recognised' or 'this number is not available' would work?

I've encountered a few "blocked call" messages and they have all specifically said the number "does not accept" or "has blocked" the call -- in my case, usually from dialing a wrong number and getting a number that blocks everything not on a "pass-list."

In fact, thinking about your probable scenario, that is a function that I think is more common on cell phones than blocking specific numbers -- it's a bit like IM buddy lists where a new correspondent has to get put on the list to message someone.

Like you say, it's fiction, so you can enhance the actual technology a bit, but the actual "error message" could be as simple as a busy signal to blocked callers with nor explanatory message at all or as specialized as "you're a rotten son-of-a-bitch and I'll shoot you if I see you, you pestilent pile of dog-shit!"

 

[Vermilion]

or as specialized as "you're a rotten son-of-a-bitch and I'll shoot you if I see you, you pestilent pile of dog-shit!"

giggles... that's the impression I want conveyed, without the actual words being said

x
V

 

[Weird Harold]

giggles... that's the impression I want conveyed, without the actual words being said

I'd probably use something similar to the notice vBulletin's Ignore list function generates: "the number you have dialed has the number you're calling from on it's ignore list."

ETA: have you seen the twelve days of christmas parody on one of the joke threads? the one that starts out "A partridge in pear tree, how sweet" and ends with "our client has instituted proceedings to stop your unwarranted harrassment."

With a (probably fictional) customizeable, personalizeable call blocking function, you can escalate the message over several attempts to contact her.

 

[neonlyte]

Not sure you can bar an individual caller, Mils. It's a service provided by the network rather than the phone and mobile networks have no interest in barring calls. That said, you can bar all incoming calls, roaming calls, outgoing calls. On the majority of networks, you can reject calls but only once your phone has rung - the caller ID identifies the number, you can see if you want to receive it or not; of course, the unwanted admirer could elect not to dispaly his/her caller ID - an odd feature available on just about all mobile phones, which is probably why one cannot easily bar an individual number. Caller ID display was introduced around 1999 after settlement of a long running patent dispute.

 

[Vermilion]

I'd probably use something similar to the notice vBulletin's Ignore list function generates: "the number you have dialed has the number you're calling from on it's ignore list."

ETA: have you seen the twelve days of christmas parody on one of the joke threads? the one that starts out "A partridge in pear tree, how sweet" and ends with "our client has instituted proceedings to stop your unwarranted harrassment."

With a (probably fictional) customizeable, personalizeable call blocking function, you can escalate the message over several attempts to contact her.

I wanna see that '12 days of Xmas' thing
x
V

 

[buxxxom]

As in... I need to know something about mobile(cell) phones for my current story and google is being very unhelpful.

Is it possible to block a certain number from calling one on your mobile? What message might that caller get? Would it have been possible to do this nine or ten years ago?

thanks guys

x
V

I know you're able to assign a ring tone to certain numbers, so if you heard that one, you'd know who was calling. I have separate ring tones for family members. Don't know if that's in the realm of what you're looking for.

 

[Vermilion]

No, it's got to be really clear that he's rejecting her thoroughly. He's stopping her from contacting him.

x
V

 

[Weird Harold]

I wanna see that '12 days of Xmas' thing
x
V

OK. (I've seen it on two of the never-ending joke threads just in the last month, what trouble's one more copy gonna cause?)

an oldie but a goodie

THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

December 14, 1972

My dearest darling John:

Who ever in the whole world would dream of getting a real Partridge in a
Pear Tree? How can I ever express my pleasure. Thank you a hundred times
for thinking of me this way.

My love always,
Agnes
================================================
December 15, 1972

Dearest John:

Today the postman brought your very sweet gift. Just imagine two turtle
doves. I'm just delighted at your very thoughtful gift. They are just
adorable.

All my love,
Agnes
================================================
December 16, 1972

Dear John:

Oh! Aren't you the extravagant one. Now I must protest. I don't deserve such
generosity, three French hens. They are just darling but I must insist,
you've been too kind.

All my love,
Agnes
================================================
December 17, 1972

Dear John:

Today the postman delivered four calling birds. Now really, they are
beautiful, but don't you think enough is enough.

You are being too romantic.

Affectionately,
Agnes
================================================
December 18, 1972

Dearest John:

What a surprise. Today the postman delivered five golden rings, one for
every finger. You're just impossible, but I love it. Frankly, all those
birds squawking were beginning to get on my nerves.

All my love,
Agnes
=================================================
December 19, 1972

Dear John:

When I opened the door today there were actually six geese laying on my
front steps. So you're back to the birds again huh? These geese are huge.
Where will I ever keep them? The neighbors are complaining and I can't sleep
through the racket.

Please stop.

Cordially,
Agnes
================================================
December 20, 1972

John:

What's with you and those freaking birds?? Seven swans a swimming. What kind
of joke is this? There's bird poop all over the house and they never stop
the racket. I can't sleep at night and I'm a nervous wreck. It's not funny.

So stop those freaking birds.

Sincerely,
Agnes
================================================
December 21, 1972

O.K. Buster:

I think I prefer the birds. What the heck am I going to do with 8 maids a
milking? It's not enough with all those birds and 8 maids a milking, but
they had to bring their darn cows. There is manure all over the lawn and I
can't move in my own house.

You must think you're really cute...please cut it out.

Agnes
================================================
December 22, 1972

Hey Bonehead:

What are you.....some kind of sadist? Now there's nine pipers playing. And
let me tell you, do they play. They've never stopped chasing those maids
since they got here yesterday morning. The cows are getting upset and
they're stepping all over those screeching birds. What am I going to do?
The neighbors have started a petition to evict me.

You'll get yours !

Agnes
================================================
December 23, 1972

You rotten jerk:

Now there's ten ladies dancing. I don't know why I call those sluts ladies.
They've been playing around with those pipers all night long. Now the cows
can't sleep and they've got diarrhea. My living room is a river of crap.
The Commissioner of Buildings has subpoenaed me to give cause why the
building shouldn't be condemned.

I'm calling the police on you !

Agnes
================================================
December 24, 1972

Listen you fuckwit!

What's with those eleven lords a leaping on those maid and ladies? You've
turned my home into a brothel. Those pipers got incredibly drunk on the egg
nog, ran through the maids. All twenty-three of the birds are dead.
They've been trampled to death in all the ruckus.

I hope you're satisfied, you rotten vicious swine.

You're sworn enemy,
Agnes
================================================
December 25, 1972

Dear Sir:

This is to acknowledge your latest gift of twelve fiddlers fiddling which
you have seen fit to inflict on our client, Miss Agnes McHolstein. The
destruction, of course, was total. All correspondence should come to our
attention. If you should attempt to reach Miss McHolstein at Happy Dale
Sanitarium, the attendants have been instructed to shoot you on sight.

With this letter please find attached a warrant for your arrest.

Happy Holidays,
Law Offices

 

[SimpleGifts]

No, it's got to be really clear that he's rejecting her thoroughly. He's stopping her from contacting him.

x
V

I'm not a mobile phone engineer, but I play one on TV...ok, maybe not. But a call block would work the same way on a mobile network as on a fixed-line network. You would have to call your service provider and they would program a block at the switching center. It's slightly more difficult with a mobile, because the block wouldn't be at the local switch but rather it would occur as part of the number look-up phase--the network would see which number was requesting the location of the intended call recipient, and if that number appeared on a blacklist, it would be blocked. Not sure if they'd even bother with a recorded message--the blocked caller probably just get a fast busy signal or some indication that the phone was unreachable.

Definitely do-able in the late 1990s, even before caller ID.

SG