AT&T Smart Call Blocker

What is Smart Call Blocker?

The Smart Call Blocker is an advanced call screening tool designed for your AT&T DECT 6.0 cordless telephone system. It allows your phone system to screen ALL incoming calls, effectively filtering out unwanted robocalls and telemarketing calls while ensuring that welcome calls reach you without interruption.

You can customize its behavior by creating and managing lists of callers: your Directory for trusted contacts, an Allow list for numbers you always want to hear from, and a Block list for numbers you wish to prevent from ringing. For other unknown calls, you have the flexibility to allow, block, screen, or forward them to the answering system.

The system offers two main screening profiles for handling unknown callers:

• "Screen robot" profile: This mode requires callers to press the pound key (#) to verify they are not an automated system.
• "Screen unknown" profile: This mode prompts callers to record their name and press the pound key (#). Your telephone will then announce the caller's name, giving you the option to answer, block, or send the call to the answering system. If the caller fails to complete the request, the call is automatically blocked from ringing.

Calls from numbers saved in your Directory or Allow list will bypass all screening processes and ring directly to your handset.

Understanding Call Types and Screening Logic

The Smart Call Blocker categorizes incoming calls to manage them effectively:

Welcome Calls

These include family, friends, and other contacts whose numbers are saved in your Directory or Allow list. These calls will ring directly.

Unwelcome Calls

These are typically robocalls and telemarketing calls originating from numbers that are present in your Block list. These calls are rejected.

Unknown Calls

This category encompasses calls that do not fit into the above categories:

• Calls without numbers: Calls where the caller ID information is not available.
• Uncategorized calls: Numbers or names that are not found in your Directory, Allow list, Star name list, or Block list.

When call screening is active, the Smart Call Blocker screens all incoming calls from numbers or names that are not yet saved in your Directory, Allow list, Block list, or Star name list.

Call Screening Scenarios and Profiles

The system offers various configurations to suit your needs. The following describes how different profiles handle incoming calls:

Screen Robot Profile

Scenario: Filter robocalls by asking callers to press a key.

? [telephone-ringing] ➡️ ⚙️ [smart-call-blocker] ➡️ [ask-press-#] ➡️ [caller] ➡️ [no-response] ➡️ [call-rejected].

Screen Unknown Profile

Scenario: Screen unknown callers by asking them to announce their name.

? [telephone-ringing] ➡️ ⚙️ [smart-call-blocker] ➡️ [ask-name-press-#] ➡️ [caller] ➡️ [caller-name: John] + [#] ➡️ [telephone-ringing] ➡️ [ask-you-to-select: 1 Answer call, 2 Answer call and always allow, 3 Block, 4 To answering system].

Setting Up Your Smart Call Blocker

You can configure the Smart Call Blocker using the convenient voice guide or by manually selecting a 'Set profile' option.

Using the Voice Guide

Upon initial installation of your phone, the voice guide will offer a quick and easy way to configure the Smart Call Blocker. Follow the prompts on your handset. Typically, you will be asked to choose between:

• Pressing 1: To screen calls from numbers not saved in your Directory, Allow list, or Star name list.
• Pressing 2: To allow all incoming calls without any screening.

You can restart the voice guide setup by resetting your handset power.

Quick Setup using the 'Set Profile' Option

This option allows for rapid configuration based on five common scenarios. To use this feature:

1. Press the [call-block-button] on the handset.
2. Press [navigation-buttons] to choose 'Set profile', and then press [select-button].
3. Press [navigation-buttons] to select from the following five options:

• Screen unknown
• Screen robot
• Allow unknown
• UnknownToAns.S
• Block unknown

Configuration Scenarios Explained

The following outlines the five primary scenarios and their corresponding profile settings:

Scenario 1: Screen all calls except welcome calls

Profile: Screen unknown

Description: Incoming calls from unknown numbers are screened. The caller is prompted to announce their name and press the pound key (#). You can then choose to answer, block, or send the call to the answering system. Calls from your Directory or Allow list ring through directly.

? [caller] ➡️ ⚙️ [smart-call-blocker] ➡️ [search-screen-caller-id] ➡️ [no-caller-id] / [uncategorized-calls] ➡️ [ask-name-press-#] ➡️ [caller] ➡️ [caller-name: John] + [#] ➡️ ? [telephone-ringing] ➡️ [ask-you-to-select: 1 Answer call, 2 Answer call and always allow, 3 Block, 4 To answering system].

Scenario 2: Allow all calls except those on the Block list only (Default settings)

Profile: Allow unknown

Description: Calls from numbers in your Block list are prevented from ringing. All other calls, including unknown ones, are allowed through.

? [caller] ➡️ ⚙️ [smart-call-blocker] ➡️ [search-screen-caller-id] ➡️ [no-caller-id] / [uncategorized-calls] ➡️ [allow-unknown] ➡️ ? [telephone-ringing].

Scenario 3: Screen and block robocalls

Profile: Screen robot

Description: This profile specifically targets robocalls and telemarketing calls. Callers are prompted to press the pound key (#) to proceed. If they do not, the call is rejected.

? [caller] ➡️ ⚙️ [smart-call-blocker] ➡️ [search-screen-caller-id] ➡️ [robocalls] / [telemarketers] ➡️ [ask-press-#] ➡️ [caller] ➡️ [no-response] ➡️ [call-rejected].

Scenario 4: Forward all unknown calls to answering system

Profile: UnknownToAns.S

Description: Any incoming call that is not recognized (i.e., not in your Directory, Allow list, or Star name list) will be automatically forwarded to your answering system.

? [caller] ➡️ ⚙️ [smart-call-blocker] ➡️ [search-screen-caller-id] ➡️ [no-caller-id] / [uncategorized-calls] ➡️ [call-forwarded-to-answering-system].

Scenario 5: Block all unknown calls

Profile: Block unknown

Description: All incoming calls from numbers not found in your Directory, Allow list, or Star name list will be blocked.

? [caller] ➡️ ⚙️ [smart-call-blocker] ➡️ [search-screen-caller-id] ➡️ [no-caller-id] / [uncategorized-calls] ➡️ [call-rejected].

Managing Your Lists

You can easily add and manage numbers and names in your lists to customize call screening for your specific needs.

Directory Setup

Add frequently called businesses, family members, and friends to your Directory. Calls from these numbers will ring directly without screening.

Add contacts in your directory:

1. Press the [menu-button] on the handset.
2. Press [navigation-buttons] to choose 'Directory', and then press [select-button].
3. Press [navigation-buttons] to choose 'Add contact', and then press [select-button].
4. Enter a telephone number (up to 30 digits), and then press [select-button].
5. Enter a name (up to 15 characters), and then press [select-button].
6. To add another contact, repeat from step 3.

Block List Setup

Add numbers that you want to prevent from ringing through. These calls will be blocked.

Add a block entry:

1. Press the [call-block-button] on the handset.
2. Press [navigation-buttons] to choose 'Block list', and then press [select-button].
3. Press [navigation-buttons] to choose 'Add new entry', and then press [select-button].
4. Enter a telephone number (up to 30 digits), and then press [select-button].
5. Enter a name (up to 15 characters), and then press [select-button].
6. To add another entry in block list, repeat from step 3.

Allow List Setup

Add numbers that you want to always allow their calls to get through without any screening. These calls will ring directly.

Add an allow entry:

1. Press the [call-block-button] on the handset.
2. Press [navigation-buttons] to choose 'Allow list', and then press [select-button].
3. Press [navigation-buttons] to choose 'Add new entry', and then press [select-button].
4. Enter a telephone number (up to 30 digits), and then press [select-button].
5. Enter a name (up to 15 characters), and then press [select-button].
6. To add another entry in allow list, repeat from step 3.

Star Name List Setup

Add caller NAMES to your Star name list. This is particularly useful for organizations like schools, medical offices, or pharmacies that use robocalls to communicate important information. By entering their names, these calls will ring through even if you do not know their specific numbers.

Add a star name entry:

1. Press the [call-block-button] on the handset.
2. Press [navigation-buttons] to choose 'Star name list', and then press [select-button].
3. Press [navigation-buttons] to choose 'Add new entry', and then press [select-button].
4. Enter a name (up to 15 characters), and then press [select-button].
5. To add another entry in star name list, repeat from step 3.

Additional Notes

How to unblock a telephone number

1. Press the [call-block-button] on the handset.
2. Press [navigation-buttons] to choose 'Block list', and then press [select-button].
3. Press [select-button] to choose 'Review', and then press [navigation-buttons] to browse through the block entries.
4. When the desired entry displays, press the [delete-button] on the handset. The screen shows "Delete entry?".
5. Press [select-button] to confirm.

For complete operation instructions of Smart Call Blocker, read the online Complete user's manual of your telephone system.