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Can I setup an Interactive Voice Response (or similar) system on my phone?

M

Mark Mazar

Lurker
Hello everybody,

I realize that there may be apps like this available, but I have not had any luck in finding them. Hopefully you can point me in the right direction.

I would really like an app to answer all my calls for me, and provide a menu to whoever is calling. I have found that this is called "interactive voice response."

I would like the app to say something like,
Press one if you are a human!
Press two if you would like to leave a voicemail!

Or if they (the robocaller) does not press anything...hang up.

I have found some apps have the IVR acronym in their name, but I am not sure how to use them. Am I at least headed in the right direction?

I'd appreciate any advice!

Thank you,
Mark

PS: I use the reject list all the time. I am looking into this because of VOIP callers that use random disconnected phone numbers.
 
What you're asking for is PBX functions. There's no app for that. It's really not possible on a cellphone. There's some paid services that can provide PBX type functionality, but that's the only way.
 
That information is helpful but I must ask , what is the limitation preventing the development of such an app for smart devices? Is it a limitation of the android operating system?

Thanks!
 
I guess that what I am asking is, if I had an expert understanding of the relevant APIs, would such an app be possible? And, if not, why not?
 
It's a limitation of the cellphone system. You want an app to answer the phone, accept inputs, transfer to voicemail, etc. It's simply not possible for an app to provide the functionality you want on a cellphone connection.

If it were possible, someone would have written the app years ago and would be a very rich man now.
 
Thank you very much. I'd really like to discover a way to provide that service, not only for my own convenience but, as you said, to make money.

So far as I understand it, VOIP services allow for this functionality. Is that right?

If you answered all your calls via Skype, would such an app be possible? Do they already exist? If so, do you have any recommendations?

Thanks again,
Mark
 
From your responses, it looks like I have no idea what I am asking about. I would really appreciate any recommendations about where to learn about how cellular devices actually receive an incoming call? Thanks for your help!
 
Yeah, I don't think that we're trying to dog you or anything, just trying to clarify.

http://www.mat.ucsb.edu/~g.legrady/academic/courses/03w200a/projects/wireless/cell_technology.htm

As for routing think of it this way -

Your phone answers the call, the app kicks in, and let's imagine that voice mail has to happen.

In order to connect to the actual voice mail, the app would have to be able to dial out to yourself in order to get to voice mail.

For many setups, that call will receive the voice mail control center - after all, your phone will be calling - or - it'll try to place the call to you first - and if it succeeds now you have an endless loop on your hands.

So the next option is to redefine what voice mail means.

I don't know - maybe a call recorder on your phone kicks in courtesy of the app. The ones I know of expect a completed call circuit to your phone - read: normal call in progress - so your phone will be tied up with the line open. So, you're going to need to rewrite part of that app too.

Complexity at this point is now on an upward spiral.

So the other way to go is with a service.

The alternative service is a PBX as @Crashdamage pointed out, your response about going with VOIP for that was right on-target, but VOIP alone doesn't make anything easier in the above process - it simply opens the door to using a PBX.

Check out "VirtualPBX Phone"

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.virtualpbx.voip

Follow through from there to their website for the full picture on the service.
 
Nice explanation EarlyMon. I was lying in bed last night trying to get an explanation organized in my head so I could write it this morning. Ya beat me to it and did a better job than I could anyway.
 
The better explanation is up for grabs until the OP is satisfied. :)

I wouldn't have thought of the PBX route on my own, despite running one from home more than a decade ago - totally spaced it. So half of what I said came from you.
 
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