How to restrict outgoing calls on the iphone?

marioletto · Feb 4, 2010

Hi All,
I need to be able to restrict mobile network outgoing calls. I want the iphone to receive calls, but dialing out needs a password or is somehow disabled. Ideally this would be done adding "phone" to the restrictions list so that making a call would require a password, but unfortunately Apple decided not to have "Phone" listed in settings>general>restrictions.
Any ideas/workarounds/jaibroken apps?
thanks

countrydweller · Feb 4, 2010

marioletto said:
Hi All,
I need to be able to restrict mobile network outgoing calls. I want the iphone to receive calls, but dialing out needs a password or is somehow disabled. Ideally this would be done adding "phone" to the restrictions list so that making a call would require a password, but unfortunately Apple decided not to have "Phone" listed in settings>general>restrictions.
Any ideas/workarounds/jaibroken apps?
thanks

Just keep the passcode lock on, you can still answer calls. Will need to enter the code to do anything else.

marioletto · Feb 4, 2010

countrydweller said:
Just keep the passcode lock on, you can still answer calls. Will need to enter the code to do anything else.

Thanks, but that won't work for me.
I'm looking for a solution that will only restrict the ability to make calls.
All the other phone's features must be available and be working, including wifi and internet browsing.

Night Spring · Feb 4, 2010

There are jailbroken apps that lets you put a passcode on an app-by-app basis. I haven't tried to lock the phone app this way, but I would think it can be done.

marioletto · Feb 4, 2010

Night Spring said:
There are jailbroken apps that lets you put a passcode on an app-by-app basis. I haven't tried to lock the phone app this way, but I would think it can be done.

That could work, do you have a name for an app? The simpler the better... Thanks!

Gav2k · Feb 4, 2010

You need to call your service provider and find out what your 4 digit pin is or set one then you call the following.

*33*pin# to turn on call barring
#33*pin# to turn off.

Replace pin with your code.

To bar incoming calls replace 33 with 35.

Night Spring · Feb 4, 2010

marioletto said:
That could work, do you have a name for an app? The simpler the better... Thanks!

The app I'm using is called Lockdown.

marioletto · Feb 4, 2010

Night Spring said:
The app I'm using is called Lockdown.

Thanks, the Lockdown app is pretty cool and can lock lots of apps, too bad it doesn't ask for a password when placing or receiving a call but only when opening the "phone" icon. Wow, i can't believe that there isn't an app that simply asks for a password when someone is trying to make a call!

Applejuiced · Feb 4, 2010

marioletto said:
Thanks, the Lockdown app is pretty cool and can lock lots of apps, too bad it doesn't ask for a password when placing or receiving a call but only when opening the "phone" icon. Wow, i can't believe that there isn't an app that simply asks for a password when someone is trying to make a call!

Did u try it first?
You can't acess the phone section of the iphone without the password. U can always answer incoming calls though.

marioletto · Feb 5, 2010

Applejuiced said:
Did u try it first?
You can't acess the phone section of the iphone without the password. U can always answer incoming calls though.

Oh yes i tried. Once locked, I couldn't access the "phone" section without entering a password, but when the call request was sent to the phone by an other application (like the address book), the call would be placed regardless of the Lockdown settings.

Applejuiced · Feb 5, 2010

marioletto said:
Oh yes i tried. Once locked, I couldn't access the "phone" section without entering a password, but when the call request was sent to the phone by an other application (like the address book), the call would be placed regardless of the Lockdown settings.

Then lock down the address book also.
How else could you acess the phone section besides the phone.app or the address book app?

marioletto · Feb 5, 2010

Applejuiced said:
Then lock down the address book also.
How else could you acess the phone section besides the phone.app or the address book app?

yes, I already tried that workaround, but the address book is shared between other apps, if i lock it, i won't be able to access it to send an email for instance.

I'm not looking for a workaround, i want to find out if anyone here knows how to do it right: how to prevent calls out from being placed regardless of the application that has originated the request for a call out. This would also be beneficial to those who travel abroad and don't want to make "error" calls that cost $2 each.

Applejuiced · Feb 5, 2010

Interesting situation. Besides those lock programs I don't think there's any other option out there.

patrickvanzandt · Feb 6, 2010

Applejuiced said:
How else could you acess the phone section besides the phone.app or the address book app?

You could always open Safari, Google the number you want to call, and then click it from the search results.

Moi un Mouton · Feb 6, 2010

marioletto said:
yes, I already tried that workaround, but the address book is shared between other apps, if i lock it, i won't be able to access it to send an email for instance.

I'm not looking for a workaround, i want to find out if anyone here knows how to do it right: how to prevent calls out from being placed regardless of the application that has originated the request for a call out. This would also be beneficial to those who travel abroad and don't want to make "error" calls that cost $2 each.

If that's what you want, why not just buy a netbook? It's cheaper than an iPhone, doesn't need an AT&T contract, and you're guaranteed it won't make cellphone calls.

marioletto · Feb 6, 2010

Moi un Mouton said:
If that's what you want, why not just buy a netbook? It's cheaper than an iPhone, doesn't need an AT&T contract, and you're guaranteed it won't make cellphone calls.

I think you missed the point. I'm not looking to permanently disable the phone (removing the SIM would do).
I'm asking how to prevent unauthorized use of the phone.
It's really that simple.
Let me know if know how to do it or if you know that it can't be done.

Applejuiced · Feb 6, 2010

patrickvanzandt said:
You could always open Safari, Google the number you want to call, and then click it from the search results.

True, I didnt think of that. But an average non-iphone user wouldnt know how to do that probably.

Moi un Mouton · Feb 7, 2010

marioletto said:
Wow, i can't believe that there isn't an app that simply asks for a password when someone is trying to make a call!

Well you'll probably concede that you do seem to have a fairly specialist and unique requirement. Given that the thing is foremost a phone and it does have a passcode lock to prevent unauthorised use. BTW Apple don't allow background apps.

As an aside, try going to MRoogle and putting in variations of "i can't believe that there is/isn't/Apple did/didn't/have/haven't.......", it's quite funny. You'll find you have lots of soulmates out there - none of them with your problem, true enough, but all 100% certain that what they want is obviously what other people want too.............

marioletto · Feb 7, 2010

Moi un Mouton said:
As an aside, try going to MRoogle and putting in variations of "i can't believe that there is/isn't/Apple did/didn't/have/haven't.......", it's quite funny. You'll find you have lots of soulmates out there - none of them with your problem, true enough, but all 100% certain that what they want is obviously what other people want too.............

touché

eegoh0 · Mar 4, 2010

Actually, I have a requirement just like Marioletto.

The reason I bought the iPhone was specifically so that I could share it with my 3-year old son to keep him occupied during busy times (driving, shopping, etc). He knows how to use the apps brilliantly, and itunes have great educational apps for kids! I use the Restrictions section to prevent him from unnecessarily using 3G/Edge (and getting Data charged for it!). But I can't prevent him from making accidental calls (luckily the few times he's accidentally made a call was to my husband, and not a client!)

So if anyone is still following this and has perhaps found a solution, please do share. Thanks!

kristykru · Dec 6, 2010

eegoh0 said:
Actually, I have a requirement just like Marioletto.

The reason I bought the iPhone was specifically so that I could share it with my 3-year old son to keep him occupied during busy times (driving, shopping, etc). He knows how to use the apps brilliantly, and itunes have great educational apps for kids! I use the Restrictions section to prevent him from unnecessarily using 3G/Edge (and getting Data charged for it!). But I can't prevent him from making accidental calls (luckily the few times he's accidentally made a call was to my husband, and not a client!)

So if anyone is still following this and has perhaps found a solution, please do share. Thanks!

i have iphone 4 and this is my EXACT situation.... anythign i can do about it yet? just want to restrict outgoing calls

Applejuiced · Dec 6, 2010

Only if you jb and put a pin lock on the phone and contacts apps.

TheMacBookPro · Dec 7, 2010

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 2.1-update1; en-gb; SonyEricssonX10i Build/2.0.A.0.504) AppleWebKit/530.17 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/530.17)

why don't you just enable call barring as suggested by a previous poster?

dccorona · Dec 7, 2010

Applejuiced said:
Then lock down the address book also.
How else could you acess the phone section besides the phone.app or the address book app?

there are several third party dialers available from the app store

if the OP is giving this phone to people they don't want being able to place calls, not just to a child who might accidentally do so, then they could very easily install one of those third party dialers and place calls. It'd be impossible to know and block every one, even if it was possible to block apps that aren't installed on the phone (which, as far as I know, it isn't)

Applejuiced · Dec 7, 2010

Sounds like the op shouldn't give his phone to people then or maybe take his sim out.
Also wouldn't they need his iTunes password to install anything on his phone?

How to restrict outgoing calls on the iphone?

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