Having said that, Apple should definitely be more aggressive about blocking spam numbers. My perception is that it does absolutely nothing about them. Does Android do a better job here?

In fact, when I tell Google Voice a number is spam, while it won't forward calls from that number anymore, it still forwards both calls and texts to Hangouts. The only way to prevent Hangouts from receiving known spam is to block the number, which is buried in the app. (I hate Hangouts, it has to be the best self-torture app ever.)

Edit: As I was typing this, I received notification on both my phone (Hangouts) and in my web browser (Hangouts) of a voicemail from a number previously marked as spam. "Our system is showing your local Google listing is currently not managed or has not been properly cleaned and verified ..." In Google Voice, this voicemail is in the Spam folder. And yet I received two notifications on my devices for it.

Apple does some work in this area. I know that occasionally I will get calls on my iPhones that have a line underneath reading "Possible spam" or something similar. But I think it's more of a carrier issue than a device manufacturer issue.

IIRC, there was a mention in one of the previous keynotes about spam prediction being available in China. I don't know if that's the same tech or not, but that's the only time I can remember Apple mentioning it.

On my wife's phone, most spam calls are auto detected as "Spam Likely" and you can report new numbers as spam, which I presume Google uses to update its database of spam callers.

They should absolutely be doing something to stop spoofing, though.

If the number is not in my contacts list I redirect it to voicemail.

If Apple gives me that I'm a happier consumer.

And most of the time, I also google the numbers that I don't recognize, and block them if they are known offenders/spammers.

Apple refuses to make it so you can actually manage how the "phone" can bother you, and I'm assuming they have some sort of deal with the carriers to be this way.

I recently bit the bullet on that and installed an app on my iPhone that blocks robo and spam calls. It's a subscription but considering how much productivity I loose due to spam calls I figure it's worth it. I had no idea Apple exposed an API that lets an app block calls but it works. Every once in a while a call slips through and I add it to their database. So far I've only missed one call I wanted and that was from Apple Developer Support. Apparently their auto-dialer is listed. Such is life.

I don’t understand why they don’t have this option. They have options that are close, like do not disturb except for favorites in your contacts, but this is a sledgehammer, where we need something more general purpose.

This technology seems to come built into various mid-range landline phones now, and it has stopped almost 100% of junk calls since we last updated our equipment and got one of those, though it has occasionally confused legitimate callers as well and you do need to turn if off if you're genuinely expecting an automated call such as from your bank to validate something you're doing online. That's not much of a hassle though, and I don't see any reason something similar couldn't be done for mobile phones.

I want an option specific to the phone function.

Maybe this is what some people want, but it's not for me.

With how much MacBooks have increased their phoning home.. But having visibility, wish I could say the same for iPhone/iPad as easily.

Your point about spam calls is a good one. I'm not sure how many years you've had your number, or how many people had it before you. I have had my current mobile number a long time and the spam calls from me being on a list are minimal, minus voip robo-dialers. Spam callers seem to use easily changeable voip numbers (sometimes calling from similar voip numbers to my own), part of the spam call issue is likely to encourage the voip phone providers to pay attention to high usage/turnover numbers.

All companies have a good privacy record, until they don't

EDIT: Nvm, I reread your post. =) Mr. Number is owned by Hiya.

Opt out of spam calls?

Or opt out of having them count the calls coming from your phone?

I think you should have to EPLICITLY opt IN to spam calls. I think Apple should block them by default. (ie - I think you should be AUTOMATICALLY opted out of spam calls.)

Opting out of them counting your calls should be allowed by Apple. Of course, I don't expect Apple to just take on all the fraud that goes along with that. For instance, they should be more than free to subject your mobile app store activity to extra scrutiny if you opt out. Potentially even blocking you from being able to take certain actions on the stores. Because it's obvious that all of the criminals and fraudsters will opt out.