Overview

The section overviews how Blacklist works on to block incoming calls, SMS and MMS.

How Blacklist works

Every phone comes with a SIM card and a phone number. When a phone call is placed, the phone (caller) first talks to a mobile operator (ex. Verizon) and requests a call to another phone number (a receiver). The mobile operator check caller’s permission (ex. billing) and communicates to the receiver. On success, the receiver should receive an incoming call, receiver’s phone starts to ring. In this process, the mobile operator uses caller’s phone number and receiver’s phone number as the identification, as known as Caller ID. This process is almost the same for sending a SMS or MMS messages.

When talks to the receiver, the mobile operator optionally send the caller’s number to receiver. If they do, the receiver phone uses it to look up caller’s name and show both number and caller’s name on screen. Otherwise, receiver will see “private number” or “withheld”.  

Blacklist relies on Caller ID to decide block incoming calls/text or not. Technically speaking, Blacklist intercepts all incoming calls and texts, extracts Caller Id (or null in case private number) and block calls/texts if necessary. Therefore, users should define which Caller IDs are blocked.

There are four alternative methods to block an incoming calls. One work on some phone models, others works on other phone models. But the four can cover all existent phone models running on Android 2.1+. All are done in the receiver side (and not  caller or mobile operator sides)

• Turn ringer off: Blacklist will turn the ringer off as soon as a call arrive
• End call: The call will hang up as soon as it arrives. The caller perceives as you press the “cancel” button on your phone. In some carrier, the caller may be redirected to voice mail and they may leave a voice mail. To avoid leaving a voice mail, you can enable the pick up then hang up mode in the settings (read more). SMS will be come to Blacklist box rather than normal message box.
• Hang up then pick up: When a call is coming, Blacklist tries to pick the call up, then immediately hang up it. This option can avoid leaving voice mail. However, it may cost you money if your carrier charged you for incoming calls.
• Turn radio off: in some ROM, both three above methods does not work due to the manufacturer did a lot modification on the original Android kernel (released by Google).  This alternative method may drop your radio (include wifi, bluetooth) for awhile.

Setting (basic)

Blacklist offers customizable parameters and different blocking scenario. Most of Blacklist’s settings can be accessed from Setting popup window as below

Black list settings

A blacklist defined a list of untrusted numbers. To change blacklist settings, tap on the  button, then “Blacklist” to put numbers that you want to block in to blacklist first.

There are three kind of numbers in blacklist settings

• Numbers not in my contacts: these numbers did not save into your phone book yet
• Private numbers: numbers that the caller does not send there number (or caller id). You may see withheld or private number instead of a precis number when a call is coming.
• Specific number: these number may be picked up from your call logs, SMS logs, or your phone book. Tap on the ”+” button to pick one. You can pick zero or more concrete numbers

For each [kind of] number, you can select various parameter in order to block:

• Block option: one can select one among 6 options
  1. Turn off ringer + Block SMS: Like you turn off the ringer and don’t pick up the call. The caller is not aware anything. SMS will be come to Blacklist box rather than normal message box.
  2. End call + Block: The call will hang up as soon as it arrives. The caller perceives as you press the “cancel” button on your phone. In some carrier, the caller may be redirected to voice mail and they may leave a voice mail. To avoid leaving a voice mail, you can enable the pick up then hang up mode in the settings (read more). SMS will be come to Blacklist box rather than normal message box.
  3. Turn of ringer: as 1) but you still receive incoming SMS from the number.
  4. End call only: as 2) but you still receive incoming SMS from the number.
  5. Block SMS only: you still receive incoming calls. SMS will be come to Blacklist box rather than normal message box.
  6. Do not block: Blacklist does not intervene incoming calls and SMS from this number.
• Log option (Pro only): You can select to log blocked calls/SMS
• Matching method (available on concrete number only): this option allows one to define a pattern to match against a range of numbers
  1. Exactly: match as the number entered. This is default option.
  2. Start with: Useful for block numbers in a region/country or a special service such as all telemarketing numbers.
  3. End with, Contains: specific patterns
  4. Regular Expression: this is the most powerful (but the most complicated settings). You can define yourself a pattern. The pattern rules are defined at Regular Expression document

After modifying parameters, tap on “Save” button to save the setting. You can tap on a number to modify it or delete it from blacklist setting.

For some phone model and Android version, this application may be conflicted with other SMS-based applications such as Go SMS or Handcent SMS, please take a look at Compatibility settings

Exception list

Exception list includes trusted people. Therefor, you can add all your phone book or one by one into this list. To start, tap on the  button, then “Exception” to put numbers that you trust into exception list.

Block Scenario

Tap on  to switch between four blocking scenarios:

1. Block blacklist excluded exception list: blocks only numbers in your blacklist list setting. If there are duplication in exception list and blacklist, the exception is higher priority (that means you will receive call from such numbers)
2. Block all excluded exception list: blocks all calls except numbers from exception list
3. Block all: block all call
4. Do not block: blacklist is turned off

Please notice that the SMS is not applied for scenario 2 and 3.

Setting up (advanced)

In the most cases, you don’t need to learn advanced parameters. However, if you need more customization or the basic parameters do not work with your phone, these advanced parameters help you to twist the app.

Text Filter

Text Filter offers a way to filter out annoying messages based on predefined keyword. It’s useful if you don’t want to read abusive text messages or your children to read sexual messages.

To start, tap on the  button, then “Text Filter”. Type a keyword then tap on ”+” button to add the keyword into blocked list. Tap on a keyword for more options

• “is included” and “is matched (RegEx)” define how to match the keyword against incoming texts.
• “Enable logs” and “Disable logs” specify either blocked messages are logged or not
• “Delete” will remove the keyword out of the blocked keyword list.

For some phone model and Android version, this application may be conflicted with other SMS-based applications such as Go SMS or Handcent SMS, please take a look at Compatibility settings

Scheduler

Scheduler helps you to automatically turn Blacklist on and off at a specific time or periodically. For example, you want to turn Blacklist on during weekend (switch on from 8PM Friday to 7AM in the next Monday). You should define two schedulers, one for turning Blacklist to “Block blacklist excluded exception list” blocking scenario at 8PM on every Friday, the other for turning Blacklist to “Do not block” scenario at 7AM on every Monday.

To start, tap on the  button, then “Scheduler”. Tap on ”+” button to add new scheduler.

• Select “when” to activate the scheduler,
• Select “repeated” option for periodic scheduler,
• Select “Switch to” blocking scenario
• You can optionally select “Auto SMS reply on blocked calls” to notify callers in case their calls are blocked,
• Tap on “Save” button to complete the action.

Settings

Settings offers several options

General

• Pick up then hang up mode: When a call is coming, Blacklist tries to pick the call up, then immediately hang up it. This option can avoid leaving voice mail. However, it may cost you money if your carrier charged you for incoming calls.
• Block MMS: this is experimental feature. Blacklist tries to delete the MMS as soon as it arrives on your phone
• In conversation option: In some model, end a call will also end call call channels, including these that are in conversation. This option may prevent your calls are dropped when a call from a blocked number is came when you are in another conversation.
• Use alternative block method: in some ROM, regular blocker does not work due to the manufacturer did a lot modification on the original Android kernel (released by Google). WANRING: this alternative method may drop your radio (include wifi, bluetooth) for awhile.
• Password: Keep your blocked numbers out of prying eyes by password protection

Notification

• Clear official notification: Blacklist tries to clear notifications made by stock applications in notification bar.
• Clear official Call Log: Blacklist tries to clear call logs
• Notification: enable/disable Blacklist’s notification

Languages

• Language: select your language (if it’s already supported) then restart the app in order to take effect.
• Translate to your language: Help us to translate the app into your languages via our translation portal

Widget

Widget is about a beautiful feature of Android OS. We want it a practical function to rapidly change Blacklist option, including change blocking scenario, auto-SMS reply. You simply add a widget on your home screen. Once the widget is added, you can tap on it to change blacklist parameters.

An alternative way to change widget settings is to tap on the  button, then “Widget” button.

Backup

Backup will store your blacklist configuration (does not include logs) into your SD Card. It’s useful if you plan to migrate your phone or do a factory reset. To start, tap on the  button, then “Backup settings”. The backed up file is stored at $SDCARD/org.baole/blacklist.backup

Restore

Restore is a revert process to brings your backed up data into Blacklist. Current data is clear. To start, tap on the  button, then “Restore settings”.

Log Management

• Touch on a log entry in the main to: view a conversation, call the sender, or restore to stock app
• To more detail in the conversation view: copy, forward, reply, and delete log entry
• Indicator: (5) number of log entries,  incoming cal,  missed call,  outgoing call ,  incoming sms,  outgoing sms

These risk indicators are not ALWAYS correct since system apps vary on manufacturers and operators. Use at your own risk

Requriements

Android 2.1+

Download

You can install it from Android Market in different versions: Free, Pro, KeyPro (upgradable from Free). You can also purchase Amazon AppStore

Compatibility Notes

If you have an SMS replacement app (Handcent/Go SMS, etc.), please follow this guide in order to make blocking SMS works:

• Go SMS Open Go SMS, hit Menu>Settings>Receive Settings, then uncheck the ‘Disable other message notifications. Then open the built in SMS app, hit Menu> settings, uncheck ‘Notifications’.
• Handcent SMS Open Hancent>Menu>Settings>Application settings>Default Messaging Application, set this to ‘Disable’. Then open the built in SMS app, hit Menu> settings, uncheck ‘Notifications’.

GINGERBREAD USERS: Some options does not work on GingerBread since Google changed Android APIs