Ask HN: In what situations would you want your phone to call you?

[chetansorted]

I’ve always faked phone calls to get out of awkward moments — waiting alone at a café, stuck in small talk, or even a meeting that’s going nowhere. Pretending worked sometimes, but honestly it often felt more awkward than the situation itself.

So I started tinkering with a small project called ComfortCall: an app that actually calls your phone from a real number with short, natural scenarios (like a friendly check-in, a colleague reminder, or a safety call).

I’ve been testing this idea with a small waitlist and people have already suggested really interesting use cases I hadn’t thought of — things like: Needing a “mom call” to gracefully leave a friend’s house Having an out when strangers stop you with uncomfortable questions Feeling safer on a late-night walk Escaping a family gathering without guilt

My question to HN: What other scenarios come to mind where a real, believable call could give you a graceful exit?

Curious to see what this community thinks — it’ll help me shape what to prioritize for the MVP.

Thanks

[eimrine]

I have no need for that, because I am an old male. But I have an idea that modern phones and/or social network are too fit to female needs and point of view, (I am called a misogynist every time I speak like this) and your feature can deliver a good use for a woman who wants to leave the friend's house and other situations from your list.

O tempora o mores - I don't want to be a friend to anyone who needs a fake impression of an incoming call with a fake speech to a fake interlocutor.

[chetansorted]

Totally fair — it’s not something everyone would need. What I’ve found is some people (especially women, or folks dealing with social anxiety) feel much safer or more in control when they can trigger a real, short, believable call. Think of a scenario a creep following a woman walking alone, creepy taxi driver? They would feel safer triggering a call.

That’s the angle I’m exploring with ComfortCall — not fake conversations, but genuine, on-demand interruptions that give you an out when you need one.

[rolph]

if it gets too far away from my keys or my wallet

[chetansorted]

haha! can you explain?

[rolph]

well its a possible excuse [i have to go find my keys]

or IRL if your phone gets too far away from any airtags on a list then it calls you.