So asks Tim Worstall on his blog:
So, all mobile phones have SMS or texting on them.
Is there any way to turn that feature off?
Specifically, a way to turn it off so that anyone who tries to text you knows that it didn’t go through? And that it won’t?
As much as it might wind me up, I can see that some people would really like this feature on their handset/mobile account.
(Thanks for sending me the link Andy)
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Hmmm.. I don't thinkso. Only thing you could do is put the phone 'Offline' or in Flight mode, but then that renders the phone totally unusable as a phone!
Posted by Kip Hakes on August 27th, 2008 at 10:07 am.I follow mobile blogs and politics blogs and don't normally tend to see much crossover!
Maybe there is a gap for a politics segment on MIR
Posted by andyhoops on August 27th, 2008 at 10:25 am.I've run across this before, with several people. Part of it here in the U.S., and I believe in Canada too, is that we pay for incoming SMS .. which is stupid since we have no say in whether we get them or not. My parents were so tired of getting dinged 15 cents for every text that I finally added on the cheapest bucket of SMS/MMS to their plan, so that their bill would remain fixed.
For those who don't get charged for incoming (as I don't think you in the UK do), it sounds like it's just more of an annoyance than anything.
-olly
Posted by ollysk2 on August 27th, 2008 at 10:33 am.I personally think that the only way to do this would be for the mobile company to disable SMS inbound / outbound on the HLR, which I very doubt they would be willing to do!
Posted by squawkBOX on August 27th, 2008 at 11:40 am.I'm not aware of any way an operator can disable incoming texts - but there is a hack
Fill up your phone's inbox. Once it is full, the phone will not be able to receive any more messages. The sending party will not get a message receipt.
Of course, this rather depends on the phone / SIM that you have. If you set the phone to store all messages on the SIM card, it should only take 20 or so before it's full. Of course, you'll need to find someone to send you all the messages.
Posted by TerenceEden on August 27th, 2008 at 2:16 pm.Wicked hack!
Posted by Ricky Chotai on August 27th, 2008 at 6:56 pm.try the following call barring code
Bar incoming SMS messages
Posted by Paul on August 28th, 2008 at 7:15 am.Set: *35*barring code*16#[SEND]
Cancel: #35*barring code*16#[SEND]
Does this work?
Posted by smstextnews on August 28th, 2008 at 7:17 am.Nice one Chris
2008/8/27 Disqus <>
Posted by smstextnews on August 28th, 2008 at 7:27 am.The feature you refer to is commonly called 'family controlled walled gardens' where you predefine a set list of numbers that are blocked from either calling or texting a mobile number. I assume if you want to prevent someone from texting, then you would also want to include voice calls.
Posted by Michaelob on August 28th, 2008 at 9:31 am.Daft as it may seem, mobile subscribers have no way of preventing either calls or texts from friends or 'non friends'. When you turn a mobile on you will receive all the missed call alerts and the text messages on top.
There are solutions available from vendors such as http://www.OpenmindNetworks.com but the market is slow to adopt them for various reasons and the main one being – would you pay for this service? For the mobile operator this is dangerous territory as messages that are not delivered can not be charged for or if they do, then you will have a lot of disgruntled subscribers. Sort of shooting themselves in the foot.