[maerF0x0]

Honestly I'm at the point where I'm like lets just kill the POTS. It makes little sense to me that it's become a sort of user ID for many things, that we have better alternatives (WebRTC, FaceTime et al) that we should push. Like where it currently says "Telephone number" i should be able to put in a URL like "webrtc://<a pseudonym for my IMEI>" (which itself could be a dropdown box for "This device" on the phone itself...)

For example, why isn't it the default that when a telemarketer calls me it's not a video call? And why can't I preview their video stream prior to answering?

I get its "impossible" to make everyone change, but i do think we should push forwards...

[themafia]

> that we have better alternatives (WebRTC, FaceTime et al)

They may or may not be better. What they _aren't_ is "widely available."

Also I feel like a lot of people forget that phones still work even if the power grid is disabled. Your replacement should have the same attribute.

> why isn't it the default that when a telemarketer calls me it's not a video call?

How about when I block you I block the underlying service number and not the fake caller ID number. If a company gets blocked by too many customers it is automatically disconnected from the network.

This is _our_ network. Not the spammers. All companies use it by our leave. They wanted common carrier status and that should have a price.

[frollogaston]

IMEI is tied to the physical phone, Facetime is Apple-specific, idk what the webrtc option would be. I'm actually glad phone won as digital ID, not cause it's the best choice but because it could've been a lot worse.

[apt-apt-apt-apt]

Careful, you are one capital letter 'U' away from having the FBI, NSA, SWAT team at your door!