Tedium Highlight in Telephones: Did Caller ID violate the privacy of callers? A ’90s debate. 

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Tag results: Telephones

Messy Convergence

When technology concepts awkwardly merge together, or why someone thought it might be a good idea to combine a mouse and a telephone.

Know Who’s Calling?

Over the past 35 years, our views on privacy and Caller ID technology have totally flipped. The concern used to be about the caller. Now, it’s the recipient.

Smartphones, Except Landlocked

Before the smartphone fit in your pocket, it sat on your desk—and sometimes, it was even called an iPhone. Let’s check out a few landline smartphones.

Holding Patterns

The unusual state of hold music, which works pretty much the opposite way that every other kind of music does, for reasons both technical and psychological.

Hands-Free Horrible

Inspired by something I saw online, I bought Phone Relief, an “As Seen On TV” product that turns any phone into a hands-free phone—so you don’t have to.

The Chinese Robocall Blues

Like spam messages, robocalls aim for the broadest possible audience in an effort to get someone, anyone, with its scam. And both are annoying as heck, too.

The Polyphonic Screed

The evolution of the modern cell phone ringtone—and the Ukrainian guy who wants to give Apple’s default noises a refresh.

Out Of Order

Why aren’t area codes laid out in a seemingly logical way, like ZIP Codes are? Part of the answer can be found in the rotary dial of early telephones.

More Dialing, More Weirdness

There are lots more weird phone numbers out there—and some of them have pretty fascinating stories. Read on to learn more about the vintage phone system.

A Weaponized Slogan

Verizon’s popular “Can you hear me now?” tagline has been ruined by phone scammers trying to buy stuff with your voice, the Better Business Bureau reports.

Recorded For Quality Assurance

It seems like we've been dealing with frustrating call centers forever. But, as it turns out, customer service via phone is a relatively recent phenomenon.

So Many Random Phone Numbers

What’s hiding in the telephone system? These weird phone numbers carry some of the strangest, creepiest automated messages you’ve ever heard. Give ’em a call.
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