The timer for the call starts as soon as the phone starts ringing and not when the other party picks up the phone. Is there any way to know when the other side has picked the call other than holding it to your ear or putting it on the speaker. I know this seems like a silly complaint, but my old phone (not a smart phone) had this option - when the call was in ringing mode the screen would show 'calling' and when the party picked up the line, the clock would start. That way just by looking at the phone I would know if its still ringing or if its been picked up.