What Is a Blacklist on My Droid?

Blacklisting Single Users

Droid owners can effectively block or blacklist phone numbers by editing the number as a contact. Select the number and edit its information to automatically send calls or texts from that number to voicemail in versions of Android prior to 2.2. In Android 2.2, choose 'Settings,' 'Call Settings,' 'Blacklist' to individually blacklist numbers. This can drastically cut down on the number of unwanted commercial texts and calls. It also allows phone owners to blacklist people engaging in harassment and similar behavior.

Blacklist Apps

Individual blacklisting isn't always convenient or practical, especially for users with older versions of the Android OS. Downloadable blacklist apps enable users to more easily avoid undesirable text messages and calls. Some of these apps are free, while others require a nominal fee. Check blacklist apps for known conflicts with other SMS and call-related apps before installing. They can interfere with pop-up dialogs and other add-on features. Apps can provide more advanced features than blacklisting by hand.

Benefits

Blacklisting allows users to know that calls and texts they receive are relevant and wanted. Depending on how the blacklisting method works, callers may be sent directly to voicemail, implying that the phone is off or that the line is busy. SMS notifiers in some blacklist apps allow phone owners to send back an SMS telling callers why their texts or calls have been rejected. This method works when nonbusiness callers must be blacklisted for a meeting or other important event.

Considerations

Blocking undesirable numbers can be difficult and time-consuming, especially if the Droid receives a lot of commercial calls and texts. One alternative method offered by some blacklisting apps is whitelisting. This technique can be used on its own or in combination with a blacklist, and involves permitting only calls from numbers on an approved list, or whitelist. This technique minimizes the number of false positives and is more accurate if the user receives mostly calls from friends and other known callers, but doesn't work well for people who receive many useful calls from strangers.