How do we get Samsung Smart Call?

[mama23dogs]

You mean other than trying to get $3 a line out of customers? 

If ATT weren’t giving it free, I might be easier on Verizon about charging a fee.  There must be some expense and effort to block calls at the network level, which the paid Verizon service and ATT Call Protect does do.  As opposed to Hiya and Samsung Smartcall which blocks or screens based only on Hiya’s data base and on the phone itself. 

Running both Hiya and Call Protect, I’ve seen changes over time.  Both improved as the data base expands.  Hiya allows users to add and comment on additions to the database.  Hiya often rings once, Call Protect does not.  Hiya keeps the logs, which is nice if an error is made, blocking a legit call.  Call Protect has no log of blocked calls.

As for carriers altering their branded phones,  it’s a fact of life, I’m not going to agonize.  Just not worth it.

I’ve used both versions of some models, there are benefits to both.   You have to weigh the options.  For example:  You give up Wifi calling to gain the original brand features Like Smartcall.   I can’t easily fix the Wifi calling, but I can use Hiya, so the branded phone wins. 

[nycpigeon]

I hear ya. But, again, the point of my question isn't a comparison of

options (which I can do).. I just don't get why Verizon doesn't just ALLOW

for the enabling of Smart Call (by principle.. like I've been saying) since

you can just download 3rd party apps to do it anyways - which I'm sure

Verizon is aware of.

Yes, they have the opportunity to get a $3 per line subscription, which is

no small money for the amount of people in their network, but I feel like

it's just going the extra mile to completely write off Smart Call (and

disallow it from being installed in any way) than it simply coming disabled

with the Verizon Call ID as the default.

Anyways, no need to continue on about how Smart Call isn't even the best

option available etc. because my issue wasn't with a feature not being

available so much as the principle behind a carrier "unnecessarily"

(because you can download 3rd party apps like Hiya anyways) burying a

feature.

Thank you though, @mama23dogs, your post really was extremely informative.

On Mon, Mar 26, 2018 at 10:35 AM, mama23dogs <forums@verizonwireless.com>

[sh290202]

I've been a Verizon customer for nearly a decade. I've put up with the higher cost and miscellaneous fees that Verizon charges in exchange for their great service.

But this issue with Verizon blatantly blocking Smart Call has finally put me over the top. This is plain greed and laziness on the part of Verizon, given that (as others have mentioned) there are many free alternatives to Smart Call, and there is really no reason to block Smart Call, except as a lazy attempt at blocking competition.

This has really left with me a bitter taste, given that I payed EXTRA to buy a Verizon specific S8.

From now on, I'll be buying unbranded unlocked phones, and will be keeping an eye out for promotions from other carriers which might tempt me to switch.

[vzw_customer_support]

Your decade of loyalty means the world to us, sh290202! I definitely wouldn't want you to leave the Verizon Wireless family. I apologize that we don't offer a free service such as SMART Call. Our community members have provided great alternative solutions, such as a third party app that provides similar features. If you are receiving many spam calls, please review our unlawful call assistance page for support: http://spr.ly/6583DZX1D .

Yourunclefats, I apologize that this Samsung app is not available. There are other alternative cost free solutions, such as third party apps that our community members have provided as suggestions. I have provided a link above that may be helpful to you as well. I also recommend if you are receiving unwanted calls to register and report them to the Do Not Call registry. Here is a link to the government site: http://spr.ly/6584DZX1E . I hope this information helps.

MarshallP_VZW

Follow us on TWITTER @VZWSupport

If my response answered your question please click the _Correct Answer_ button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

[DAVTA91]

I'm with sh290202​- this is shady AF.  Been a loyal Verizon customer since 2007 because of their network & coverage but this is just too much.  Its not that they're "not offering" a "free service" - its beyond that.  They're REMOVING a built in service by the phone manufacturer to increase their profits by exploiting their existing customers.  I've been receiving 2-3 spam calls every morning from some chinese recording and all my friends receive the same.  This is a needed service that Verizon is trying to add on as a subscription.

No fault to the Verizon reps that have been gracious enough to reply to this thread.  This was a decision that was made by some product manager and approved by his/her greedy executives.

[mama23dogs]

Despite the name, Smart call was not a Samsung product. 

It was developed/programmed by Hiya. 

Hiya as a separate app, is still FREE.

[countrydirtride]

I just installed Hiya and it looks pretty straightforward.  It seemed to go back into my call log and tagged a few recent calls as potential spam or fraud.  So far, so good.

[mama23dogs]

Yeah, it’s funny.  In some ways Hiya works better than ATT Call Protect, in others Call Protect is better. 

But then when has ATT not messed with a good thing making it less of a good thing?  (At least its free)

[jrh4054]

Hiya is free too.

[ME_Elocin]

My wife switched from Samsung to Google Pixel 3 XL.

She has the Caller ID & Spam protection embedded in the phone app.  And she is a VZW primary account holder.

So maybe VZW wised up and allows it in Android 9 which is pre-installed on my wife's phone as well.

So hopefully this will go away as a disabled app when the Galaxy S8+ gets Android 9