MetroPCS adds call and text message blocking

The Federal Trade Commission might prohibit auto-dialers from calling your cell phone, but as most of us know that hasn’t stopped them. At least once a week I get a call from a telemarketer, and it eats my monthly minutes. It appears that MetroPCS is going to do something about that. They’ve teamed with PrivacyStar to offer a service called Metro Block-it. As the name implies, the service allows users to block calls from unwanted callers — meaning telemarketers and other auto-dialers.

PrivacyStar has been around for a while, most notably as an app for smartphones. It uses the power of crowds to build a database of spam callers. Users can then choose to block numbers from the database, in both call and text form. That means you won’t see or hear of these telemarketing and other spam calls unless you want to. It also allows the ability to completely block private and unknown numbers.

If an autodialed call does make its way to a phone, users can then add it to the registry. They can also report the numbers to the Do Not Call Registry right from the PrivacyStar app.

The app does cost some money. Metro users can download and use it for free for 30 days. It then costs $1 per month. It is currently available only on Android handsets, though they do promise availability on other phones soon.

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One Response

1. Derrick Says
   

   That’s a great news! I don’t mind spending $1 a month for something very useful. I can skip buying a new hair pin for that.

   I’m afraid being on the DNC can’t stop all these calls altogether. In fact, I just got another telemarketing call this morning. I reported the phone number at Callercenter.com already. I’ve contacted my telephone company to get the number blocked, too.

   I just wished this new app would do the job this time.

   
   Posted on February 17th, 2012 at 10:54 pm

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