Apple recently introduced the world to its upcoming operating system update, with some major changes in both appearance and functionality. It was announced at the company's 2013 Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco on June 10, and is scheduled for release in Fall 2013. CEO Tim Cook has called it the "biggest change to iOS since the introduction of the iPhone" which launched in the summer of 2007.
One of the new features we are really looking forward to is the ability to block any unwanted numbers from contacting you.
Last year Apple added a Do Not Disturb feature to prevent iPhones, iPads, and iPods using iOS 6 from buzzing, beeping or causing any disturbances when we were trying to sleep, relax or enjoy some gadget-free time. However, its usefulness was very limited in that it wasn't possible to tailor your preferences for specific contacts.
With iOS 7, Apple is adding a built-in call blocking option for the first time on iPhone. Rather than using external App downloads you can now block calls, messages and face-time from any phone number in a few quick and easy steps, right on the OS interface. This is a feature many have been requesting for a long time and is sure to make a whole bunch of people happy.
We’ve all encountered it before, whether it’s a former partner that won’t let go, a relentless barrage of telemarketing calls or an infuriating influx of unsolicited spam messages at all hours of the day. For those who decided not to opt for unlimited price plans with their operators it can also become a financial burden, having to pay for each message / call received. Of course this feature has been available to cell phone users for a number of years through a variety of services, but it is good to see Apple now tackling this directly. Although this won't successfully block typical spammers that we deal with on a daily basis here at AdaptiveMobile, it will help address personal issues such as unwanted advertising campaigns and text bomb attacks. Plus it will allow another way for people to help deal with spam, which is always a good thing.
Apple hasn't mentioned the new blocking feature on their website yet, but Apple senior vice-president of software, Craig Federighi emphasized it at the end of his iOS 7 segment at WWDC 2013 and I'm sure more details will be available in the coming weeks. Only time will tell how well the blocking system works for everyday users, for example hopefully the app won't just block the message being displayed, meaning the spam reciever may still end up paying for the spam. However, it will be a good feature to have at your disposal and test out when it finally ships in September.