These features are managed in a Spam Shield application for iPhone and Android devices, which will be available on July 24. It is an updated version of the T-Moblie Name ID application that provides caller ID functions and serves as a single location to manage the security of your number. You can enable and disable the spam blocking tool there and view a continuous list of all calls that T-Mobile has identified as spam, as well as configure caller ID features.
T-Mobile is also promoting a revamped version of its “virtual number” digit feature that it launched a few years ago. Now called Proxy, all customers can configure a second phone number that they can use to give instead of their real phone number. It’s an effort to keep your “real” number private, rather than having it hovering in the hands of every business that has ordered something online, for example. You can configure it so that calls and messages arrive normally, or send them directly to voicemail so you can check them later. Each T-Mobile account gets a Proxy number that all family members can access; If you want more than one, you will have to pay more for it. If you feel that your primary number is already too inundated with spam calls, T-Mobile will allow you to change it for free.
In a live presentation, T-Mobile repeatedly mentioned the fact that it was implementing these features at the network level and is continually learning more about how to identify automatic calls before they reach customers, but it’s obviously still a major issue. T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert said that while many of these technologies have already been available, they are trying to cut costs for customers and involve them more directly in the process: the more spam calls that are reported to the operator, better to identify them in the future.
Finally, in keeping with the security issue of the announcement, T-Mobile partnered with McAfee to provide customers with 12 months of identity protection with “Be ID Aware.” This will alert customers when their private information appears on the dark web or is revealed in a data breach so they can be sure to look for fraudulent transactions or any attempts at identity theft. T-Mobile customers can subscribe to this service now through. August 31.
Almost all of these new features are available to all T-Mobile customers, including Metro by T-Mobile users and existing Sprint customers. But since Sprint and T-Mobile’s networks have not yet merged, they still won’t have access to the Spam Shield app and its full set of protections. Instead, they can use Sprint’s app and Call Screener service, which is now free instead of $ 2.99 per month. That will unlock the free caller ID and spam block on the Sprint network. Meanwhile, T-Mobile customers can activate spam call blocking by dialing # 662 #; Next week, they will be able to monitor these features when the Spam Shield app arrives.
