A friend of mine is getting unwanted calls and texts to her iPhone 3GS. They're all from one phone number (and she knows who it is) but there seems to be no way of blocking one specific incoming number. I've had a quick Google and it does seem to be the case that you can't do anything about it. I don't know who her contract is with but is it likely that the vendor can do anything? Any other thoughts? There's no way she would jailbreak her iPhone BTW.

If the calls are coming from a company, tell her to talk to her supplier. If they're from a person, tell her to talk to the police...

I suggested this to Apple years ago. My ageing p910i can block all calls not in the address book. That is my default setting. They have clearly not acted on my suggestion.

They are coming from one person so it looks like it may have to be a case of having a word with the police. The texts themselves aren't threatening as such, just unpleasant, but there's sometimes up to 40 a day so I reckon it's harassment.

More's the point, if someone is behaving that way, just blocking their calls/texts isn't likely to make them go away. In fact, it may make them more likely to approach your friend in person and you REALLY don't want that.

Jon

I don’t know how to block calls, but I read a good tip on another website. Make a 30 second ring tone of silence and apply it to the number on the phone. The calls will still come through, but unless it’s on vibrate the only clue that the call came through will be a missed call notice in the phone app, and possibly a message on voicemail.

There isn't a way on any handset to block numbers from a specific number (AFAIK).

I have looked into this for people before (working at the Carphone Warehouse) and the only action I ever found worked was speaking to the police and working between them and the network to get it blocked. The networks generally don't block numbers at the request of a user.

on android you block any number by text or phone call or both if required
that's not much help if your using an iPhone, sorry ...

For Crackberries and android and jailbroken iPhones you can get an app for that.

on my HTC i have a firewall, malware download scanner, sms/phone blocker and a few other things
all DNS is via openDNS with filter lists, white board and black board allow/blocking
my HTC is by all intents and purposes a mini computer i use it and protect it the same way ...

Yes but the phone should be able to block all calls from strangers, that are not in the address book.

You should be able to block from "Unknown" numbers. i.e. calls where the caller number is withheld.

I know I was able to do this on my old Nokia.

You can't block from numbers not in your phonebook though.

You might have to go through your network to block withheld calls.

Exactly an unknown number is not in your phone book. Networks are reluctant to offer such bespoke services because of the cost. It really should be part of the phone. Could an app be written to do it?

No, if I call you it will display my number on the screen of your phone. However, I am not in your phone book. This does not mean I am an "unknown" number.

An "unknown" number is one where if I was to call you it would say "Blocked, "Unknown" or "Withheld" or something similar.

The latter can be blocked (you may have to pay for it) the former can't.

As for an app doing it. No, not unless you want to jailbreak your iPhone.

That is wrong. It should be a feature of the phone. I only allow people to ring me from specified numbers on my mobile phone. If a celebrity's number was out there they could get thousands of calls and be unable to block them. While those which were withheld would not get through all the others would.