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What cell phone companies are doing to cut down on robocalls

Posted at 3:58 PM, Jan 21, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-21 15:58:45-05

It's 2019 and there’s still no solution to end robocalls. Now, cell phone companies are taking their own steps to block these annoying calls.

T-Mobile, AT&T and Sprint have either already started, or will soon begin, implementing the STIR/SHAKEN standards, which are protocols that verify if a call is real or if it comes from a computer.

T-Mobile also has additional measures to protect you from these calls. The company built its own database of fake numbers. Anytime you get a call from these numbers, your caller ID will label the call as "spam likely."

AT&T also hooks up its customers with a free app called Call Protect. It's similar to No-Mo-Robo, which blocks robocalls. AT&T identifies robocalls by looking for patterns in the calls. A paid version is also available.

Sprint offers premium caller ID at an additional price. Every call that comes through your phone will be identified.

Now, Verizon doesn't use STIR/SHAKEN on its network. However, the company is about to offer a free app that blocks robocalls. It'll also alert customers of potential spam calls and will provide a caller ID on all calls.

The new app rolls out in March.