Random question about contacts - Moto X Q&A

Ok - this is not unique to the X, but dont know where else to post it. What do you guys do when you have a lot of people from an office with the same office number in your phone? I.e., I work with John, Sally and Chris who all work at ABC Corp and the phone number is 456-789-1234. When ANYONE from the company calls, that caller ID will come through. For whatever reason, my phone will display Sally (example). I only want it to display the company name. What do you do? If I add a dedicated contact for the company, how will it delineate between them?

km8j said:
Ok - this is not unique to the X, but dont know where else to post it. What do you guys do when you have a lot of people from an office with the same office number in your phone? I.e., I work with John, Sally and Chris who all work at ABC Corp and the phone number is 456-789-1234. When ANYONE from the company calls, that caller ID will come through. For whatever reason, my phone will display Sally (example). I only want it to display the company name. What do you do? If I add a dedicated contact for the company, how will it delineate between them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
without testing, it's either alphabetical or indexed, meaning it will display the first instance of the phone number it comes across. For me, if I don't have a personal line for an individual, i remove that number from their contact info.

I'm not sure what will happen if you have two contacts with the same number in People. I would guess that whichever comes first in the default sort will appear as the caller.
What I do is set up a contact with just the company name, and put the various contacts for that Co. in the notes field. Of course you won't know "who" is calling you from that company, but if they all have the same number, how is Android to know?

km8j said:
Ok - this is not unique to the X, but dont know where else to post it. What do you guys do when you have a lot of people from an office with the same office number in your phone? I.e., I work with John, Sally and Chris who all work at ABC Corp and the phone number is 456-789-1234. When ANYONE from the company calls, that caller ID will come through. For whatever reason, my phone will display Sally (example). I only want it to display the company name. What do you do? If I add a dedicated contact for the company, how will it delineate between them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As said above, I can't remember if it's alphabetical or indexed, but I believe it's alphabetical (i.e. if you work with John, Sally and Chris, Chris' name will always show up from that contact). If that's the case, you could create a contact like "A-Acme Corp" since "A" displays higher on the list.
Frankly, though, I don't think it's useful to have multiple people with the same office number, and I just create an office contact and delete the number from the individual contacts. It's not really "their" number if it's shared, so I'd rather have the contact really indicate who I'm calling, which is the company, not the person.

binary visions said:
As said above, I can't remember if it's alphabetical or indexed, but I believe it's alphabetical (i.e. if you work with John, Sally and Chris, Chris' name will always show up from that contact). If that's the case, you could create a contact like "A-Acme Corp" since "A" displays higher on the list.
Frankly, though, I don't think it's useful to have multiple people with the same office number, and I just create an office contact and delete the number from the individual contacts. It's not really "their" number if it's shared, so I'd rather have the contact really indicate who I'm calling, which is the company, not the person.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't always have control over this, i.e., global address books syncing over Exchange.

km8j said:
You don't always have control over this, i.e., global address books syncing over Exchange.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
most of the companies i've worked for/with have had a phone system with one external, but multiple internal lines. when i sync my contacts with exchange, the internal number is synced, so i am able to dial those individuals directly. however, if they call me, i have no idea who it is.
the only exception i've had to this rule are small businesses where you call and ask if you can talk to "sally" or whatever (or they don't have extensions, or the extensions aren't externally facing, etc). in that case, i don't bother with individualized contacts. i'll have a contact that says, "State Farm (Betty)" or something similar, so I know who to ask for.

binary visions said:
Frankly, though, I don't think it's useful to have multiple people with the same office number, and I just create an office contact and delete the number from the individual contacts. It's not really "their" number if it's shared,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, my husband, daughter, soon, and I all share the same home phone number. If I look up any of them, I would like that number to be one of the options visible.

Puzzlegal said:
Well, my husband, daughter, soon, and I all share the same home phone number. If I look up any of them, I would like that number to be one of the options visible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is definitely a valid use case. There has to be a way to set as a default phone number a specific contact, then you would add a generic contact for "home" or "Company XYZ".

Puzzlegal said:
Well, my husband, daughter, soon, and I all share the same home phone number. If I look up any of them, I would like that number to be one of the options visible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand, I'm not saying my solution is the only way to do it. Just that it's one way to do it.
I have a "Home" contact that has my home phone number and home address. I don't need my girlfriend to have our home phone number listed on her contact, I just know I call "home" when I need to call home.

binary visions said:
I understand, I'm not saying my solution is the only way to do it. Just that it's one way to do it.
I have a "Home" contact that has my home phone number and home address. I don't need my girlfriend to have our home phone number listed on her contact, I just know I call "home" when I need to call home.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is certainly a solution. i could set up separate contacts for "home", "husband at work", and "husband's cell phone". But it seems simpler to keep all him contact information in one place. Same for my kids, who also have multiple phone numbers.
A lot of Google services seem to assume that a phone number is only relevant for a single person. I think that's a design flaw, as it's often not true. It's not a big deal in looking up contacts, but google phone numbers are essentially broken, as it won't let two different google phone numbers point to the same home number. (and there are three of us who would like to have the google number ring there at least some of the time.)

Puzzlegal said:
That is certainly a solution. i could set up separate contacts for "home", "husband at work", and "husband's cell phone". But it seems simpler to keep all him contact information in one place. Same for my kids, who also have multiple phone numbers.
A lot of Google services seem to assume that a phone number is only relevant for a single person. I think that's a design flaw, as it's often not true. It's not a big deal in looking up contacts, but google phone numbers are essentially broken, as it won't let two different google phone numbers point to the same home number. (and there are three of us who would like to have the google number ring there at least some of the time.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
to your point, i'd be interested in seeing how other devices are handling it. i don't think its a design flaw at all. phone numbers have "always" been individualized. your home phone goes to "one" caller ID description (whether you change it with the phone co or not) - it's always going to say "The Smiths" regardless of who is placing the phone call to whom.
if you add "The Smiths" phone number to Mr., Mrs., Sally and Jr., it's still "The Smiths" phone number.
Harry Smith could be calling you on your caller ID, but it's really Jr....
i don't know any way around this, personally, short of the suggestions listed above. There's no solution for what you're asking. What do you want, voice recognition? And I'm sorry if that comes off a little snarky, but I honestly can't think of a way to handle a grouping of contacts that use the same contact information. What it sounds like you're asking is a way to create a "The Smiths" phone book entry, and marking it as "show as incoming call" so you don't jump to conclusions of who is on the other line.

I understand that the "from" address has to be "the Smiths", or some single name. But I am really frustrated that Google Voice can't pipe my calls and my son's calls both to our home phone number, even if it could only show one of them names if we replied from that number. Both of us would like to recieve calls at that number when we are at home.
It might be relevant that my house gets lousy service on every major cell carrier.

Puzzlegal said:
I understand that the "from" address has to be "the Smiths", or some single name. But I am really frustrated that Google Voice can't pipe my calls and my son's calls both to our home phone number, even if it could only show one of them names if we replied from that number. Both of us would like to recieve calls at that number when we are at home.
It might be relevant that my house gets lousy service on every major cell carrier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well forwarding multiple numbers to a single number is an entirely different issue than your original post. i've never been in your situation (that i can think of) so i can't relate. although i find it interesting google would care how many numbers were forwarded to a single number.
if you're already using google voice numbers, why not use google voice to place calls on your cells? that way, if Jr. gets a call on his GV #, it will ring his personal cell phone.

Puzzlegal said:
...It might be relevant that my house gets lousy service on every major cell carrier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
640k said:
well forwarding multiple numbers to a single number is an entirely different issue than your original post. i've never been in your situation (that i can think of) so i can't relate. although i find it interesting google would care how many numbers were forwarded to a single number.
if you're already using google voice numbers, why not use google voice to place calls on your cells? that way, if Jr. gets a call on his GV #, it will ring his personal cell phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because then we don't get calls when we are at home -- thus the desire to have google voice numbers sometimes forward to the home number.
This is actually WHY I don't use google voice. Because so long as it depends on my being the only user of any number I want it to farward to, it's basically broken for me.
Anyhow, I agree that this is entirely different from the problem that started the thread. I just live with the phone always showing my daughter when I place or recieve a call to my home. That's annoying, but not broken from a usability standpoint. (My preference would be for it to show the same person I looked up when I placed the call for outgoing calls, and my husband for incoming calls, since he calls me more than the others, and obviously, the phone has no way to know who is on the other end.) I just brought up the google voice thing to point out that Google doesn't seem to have put a lot of effort into usability when phone numbers are shared.

if you're using IP phone (using GV to make/receive calls), service has nothing to do with it. Just use your broadband connection.

Related

Project different Phone Number Caller ID

I know this could be used for bad things but what I am trying to do is stop my customers from calling my cell phone direct.
I have a small business that I use a 888 phone number this number is routed to my cell phone and I can don lots of things with the number like have it go direct to voice mail after a certain time. Anyway I use my cell to return call to customers and once they get my cell number they now bypass the 888 number calling me at all hours of the day. What I want to do is have my 888 number show on thier caller ID when I call from my Cell phone. Is this possible? Maybe a program something anything... HELP!!! These people are driving me nuts..LOL! Any help would be grat thanks so much. I hope this is in the right area. I had a ATT 8525 and upgraded to the Tilt this weekend.
http://www.spoofcard.com/ ?
both houses of congress are trying to make this type of action illegal. have fun while you can.
Thanks but not exactly what I was looking for. I want something like SPB phone suite. It will allow me to block my caller ID from anyone that is not in my contacts list. Now what I would prefer is to just offer up my 888 number for work, I want my customer to know its my company just not my personal cell phone number.
mickeyace said:
Thanks but not exactly what I was looking for. I want something like SPB phone suite. It will allow me to block my caller ID from anyone that is not in my contacts list. Now what I would prefer is to just offer up my 888 number for work, I want my customer to know its my company just not my personal cell phone number.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, try looking for something that will "spoof" your cellphone with your 888 #. you can disable your caller id # being broadcast as a temp fix, but some phones will not allow "private" listings to connect to them.
If i am not mistaken there is a setting in the Phone settings tab that will only send your number to people on your contact list and also block everyone
austinsnyc said:
If i am not mistaken there is a setting in the Phone settings tab that will only send your number to people on your contact list and also block everyone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it will show Call id to everyone, no one, or contact list. it should show up as private or unknown if on no one or on contact list. i tried the "no one" feature before, and couldn't call and say hallo to my parents.... message stated that their line wouldn't accept unknown callers (cuts down on telemarketing).

Saving two cell phone numbers under a contact

Hi,
I was wondering, if it is possible to save two mobile/ cell numbers under one contact, so when you are typing his/ her name in the new message page, both of them show up as options.
Thanks!
I don't think this is possible in Windows Mobile messaging.
--
Add recipient let's you pick the number though.
Ugh!
Crap...i know a lot of people who have two cell phones..primarily different cell numbers for different countries when they are travelling..i wish there was a way to store two cell numbers under one contact
yep most my contacts have 2 mobiles as well. some have 4 or more. I store em under the other fields like car, work2 etc etc. I guess we just have to work with what we have.
I think WM does not smart than Symbian in this. every cell phone or work phone or home phone number can use to send message
Umm
Right, I guess. But when you are typing an SMS, and you write a person's name in Windows mobile, by default only his cell phone number shows up. All other numbers, you need to go into the contact, copy the number and then paste it in your messaging window and then send it...unless there's a better way..(which I have no clue about!)...
Inesoft Address Book allows you to enter as many numbers for one contact as you want. Every number can have any label.
Awesome!
Thanks! I'll check it out!
jatin.ahuja said:
Right, I guess. But when you are typing an SMS, and you write a person's name in Windows mobile, by default only his cell phone number shows up. All other numbers, you need to go into the contact, copy the number and then paste it in your messaging window and then send it...unless there's a better way..(which I have no clue about!)...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
instead of typing the name at once. hit enter. you'll be given your whole contact list. now start typing the name. select it and you will be given the option to select from all the numbers in the contact's card. so basically you just add 1 step to the process.
wow
i never knew we could do that! Thank you! Beats installing additional software!
jatin.ahuja said:
i never knew we could do that! Thank you! Beats installing additional software!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
glad to help

able to dial like a blackberry

I woudl like to find an application that woudl allow me to click and dial any number like a Blackberry. That is, from an email, calendar invite, etc.
Same thing then for conference pass codes.
Anyone know of such an app for WIndows Mobile 6.1 devices?
Thanks
You can achieve this most of the time just by pressing call-hardkey if you are somewhere close to a number
I find this rarely works.
There is a setting for recognizing numbers
I want to say it is in the phone options, but I'm not sure. (and dont have my phone with me) but I do remember a checkbox to select for making phone numbers callable (is that a word?) from within sms, emails, etc.
I have looked. I have WinMo 6.1 and there are no options for this.
I wonder if it has to do with formatting?
I looked around and couldn't find the setting either, sorry. I might have been thinking of another device, and I should have checked before posting.
I also have 6.1, and at least in emails and SMS, the phone automatically recognizes telephone numbers and email addresses. tapping on a tel number gives the options of calling, sending a text, or saving to contacts. Tapping an email opens a new message to that address. Having members here from all over the globe made me wonder if country codes outside the US might mess up that functionality. I tried emailing myself some numbers, and when I included country codes, it didn't recoginze the number anymore. I don't know if this helps you or not, but I thought I'd throw it out there. Possibly someone here from outside of the US can tell us if it works for them.

App to deliberately drop a call

I've been getting spam calls from a certain number. They're pretty annoying. I added the number to my contacts and set it to "always go to voicemail" so that the phone doesn't even ring, but then I still get a missed call message and a voicemail with half of the spam recording. I'd like to avoid that.
What I'm wondering is if there is a way to write an app to intercept an incoming call, check the number and if it matches, simply drop/end the call. I think the caller ID whitepages apps intercept an incoming call and look up the number so it must be possible.
I'm actually a pretty experienced Java programmer and have been looking for a cool android app to write, so I'd be happy to give this a shot. Just wondering if someone can point me in the right direction of an API and the right magic for the intent filters in the manifest to allow me to grab an incoming call. If I can get a hint in that direction, I think I can probably write the app.
I'd like it to be able to take a list of numbers or a wildcard pattern and either drop the call, forward the call to a specific number, etc. Just not sure what is actually possible to do programmatically. Can anyone familiar with the inner workings of android tell me what is even possible in this regard?
Thanks
You would need an app to answer the call then disconnect.
Drop/Reject call will go to whatever programmed divert is on your acct (voicemail)
I have an app for you, hell you dont even have to download it or install it.. its called the answer and end call button, for the sake of assuming people have below standard intelligence i will include a guide
1.Answer Phone
2.?????
3.Profit
mlevin said:
I've been getting spam calls from a certain number. They're pretty annoying. I added the number to my contacts and set it to "always go to voicemail" so that the phone doesn't even ring, but then I still get a missed call message and a voicemail with half of the spam recording. I'd like to avoid that.
What I'm wondering is if there is a way to write an app to intercept an incoming call, check the number and if it matches, simply drop/end the call. I think the caller ID whitepages apps intercept an incoming call and look up the number so it must be possible.
I'm actually a pretty experienced Java programmer and have been looking for a cool android app to write, so I'd be happy to give this a shot. Just wondering if someone can point me in the right direction of an API and the right magic for the intent filters in the manifest to allow me to grab an incoming call. If I can get a hint in that direction, I think I can probably write the app.
I'd like it to be able to take a list of numbers or a wildcard pattern and either drop the call, forward the call to a specific number, etc. Just not sure what is actually possible to do programmatically. Can anyone familiar with the inner workings of android tell me what is even possible in this regard?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
search the app forums for "CallWall" by irrenhaus .. its awesome and itll do what you need it to
xidominicanoix said:
search the app forums for "CallWall" by irrenhaus .. its awesome and itll do what you need it to
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Example of informative reply
stefan.buddle said:
I have an app for you, hell you dont even have to download it or install it.. its called the answer and end call button, for the sake of assuming people have below standard intelligence i will include a guide
1.Answer Phone
2.?????
3.Profit
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Example of a jackass
Your profile doesn't show your area so I don't know if this is possible or not, but is there no do-not-call-list in your area? If there is, you might want to add your number.
mlevin said:
I've been getting spam calls from a certain number. They're pretty annoying. I added the number to my contacts and set it to "always go to voicemail" so that the phone doesn't even ring, but then I still get a missed call message and a voicemail with half of the spam recording. I'd like to avoid that.
What I'm wondering is if there is a way to write an app to intercept an incoming call, check the number and if it matches, simply drop/end the call. I think the caller ID whitepages apps intercept an incoming call and look up the number so it must be possible.
I'm actually a pretty experienced Java programmer and have been looking for a cool android app to write, so I'd be happy to give this a shot. Just wondering if someone can point me in the right direction of an API and the right magic for the intent filters in the manifest to allow me to grab an incoming call. If I can get a hint in that direction, I think I can probably write the app.
I'd like it to be able to take a list of numbers or a wildcard pattern and either drop the call, forward the call to a specific number, etc. Just not sure what is actually possible to do programmatically. Can anyone familiar with the inner workings of android tell me what is even possible in this regard?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried afirewall free off the android Market?
I appreciate what you're trying to do, but it might be easier just to report the spamming number to your provider's nuisance calls department as harassment (assuming you've asked them to stop calling or are on a no-call list).
If in the UK your provider should pursue the matter. I've reported a large number of persistent marketing / spam callers / texters over the years and had several companies shut down and fined (1 to the tune of £50k for repeatedly texting me).
If we were all to do this all the time, eventually the bottom would drop out of the market.
CodeMonkey said:
I appreciate what you're trying to do, but it might be easier just to report the spamming number to your provider's nuisance calls department as harassment (assuming you've asked them to stop calling or are on a no-call list).
If in the UK your provider should pursue the matter. I've reported a large number of persistent marketing / spam callers / texters over the years and had several companies shut down and fined (1 to the tune of £50k for repeatedly texting me).
If we were all to do this all the time, eventually the bottom would drop out of the market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I called T-Mobile. The rep told me that there isn't anything I can do because the number isn't a proper 10 digit number, so they can't block it. I also reported it to the state (Massachusetts) and federal do-not-call sites but again got replies that there was nothing they could do to track down the caller without a valid phone number or correct company name.
Thanks for the tips -- I'll try afirewall or callwall!
mlevin said:
Yes, I called T-Mobile. The rep told me that there isn't anything I can do because the number isn't a proper 10 digit number, so they can't block it. I also reported it to the state (Massachusetts) and federal do-not-call sites but again got replies that there was nothing they could do to track down the caller without a valid phone number or correct company name.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for doing that
Hope the app works out for you
stefan.buddle said:
I have an app for you, hell you dont even have to download it or install it.. its called the answer and end call button, for the sake of assuming people have below standard intelligence i will include a guide
1.Answer Phone
2.?????
3.Profit
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sorry, do you enjoy picking up your phone only to find out it's a spam call?
+1 for aFirewall ion the market.
stefan.buddle said:
I have an app for you, hell you dont even have to download it or install it.. its called the answer and end call button, for the sake of assuming people have below standard intelligence i will include a guide
1.Answer Phone
2.?????
3.Profit
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's a pretty dumb response. If someone is calling you 15 or 20 times consecutively, you don't want to have to answer/end a call every single time. An app would totally make life easier, and will probably try CallWall as well.
answer it, talk to them and request to be taken off of the call list, they legally have to do it and they will never call again, if its automated call the number back and request the same.
There are apps in Google Play
There're lots of apps solve the problem now.
Such as WhosCall, Mr Number, Call Blocker and so on. You can go to Google Play and download it, hope it is helpful for you.

SMS Grouping

I'm looking for a SMS app that allow you to turn off SMS grouping so that all messages appear as seperate entries even if they are from the same person.
The stock app doesn't doesn't do this & I have tried a few from the market place, but none have this option.
Anyone got any ideas?
I dont think any app would do that. Its kinda retarted dont you think? I
swyped from a galaxy far far away...
natious said:
I dont think any app would do that. Its kinda retarted dont you think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Normally I would agree but I have a unique situation. I receive about 10 automated service service jobs via SMS a day from one particular company. Unfortunately there system uses a lot of different numbers to send from, so it gets very confusing with some SMS's grouped togeather and others by them self.
I want the old fashion system of just displaying one SMS after another.
KTM690 said:
Normally I would agree but I have a unique situation. I receive about 10 automated service service jobs via SMS a day from one particular company. Unfortunately there system uses a lot of different numbers to send from, so it gets very confusing with some SMS's grouped togeather and others by them self.
I want the old fashion system of just displaying one SMS after another.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could give the contact a global name like "YOUR COMPANY HERE" and then add all the numbers to that contact, so in your inbox it all of them should be displayed, and in order of the time you received them.
This would only work if you have a set of numbers, if you are always getting new numbers then i dont know what you could do, ill have a think.
natious said:
You could give the contact a global name like "YOUR COMPANY HERE" and then add all the numbers to that contact, so in your inbox it all of them should be displayed, and in order of the time you received them.
This would only work if you have a set of numbers, if you are always getting new numbers then i dont know what you could do, ill have a think.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the idea but I have tried this. Even if the numbers are under the same contact the SMS's are still listed separately if there not from exactly the same number. Not sure how many numbers this company uses but I suppect it's over 20.

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