Auto (SMS) reply for missed calls

[onkq]

Checklist

• I made sure that there are no existing issues - open or closed - to which I could contribute my information.
• I have read the FAQ and my problem isn't listed.
• I have taken the time to fill in all the required details. I understand that the feature request will be dismissed otherwise.
• This issue contains only one feature request.
• I have read and understood the contribution guidelines.

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
It's not related to a problem, it's just a feature request.

Describe the solution you'd like
I would like an option to reply back to missed calls automatically. Or all calls in general (even tho the numbers might be blocked, they should still be replied to.)

My thought is that once a call has been made the caller should know I'm unavailable, that will be sent via SMS.
An option for custom messages.

Describe alternatives you've considered
Finding malware and non-foss/free apps on the Play Store that can do it, tho they all cost money. So no alternative works.

[inson1]

@onkq Why for all calls? Missed makes sense, but why are you want send message if you are talking to that person?

[onkq]

@inson1 Yea... I guess when I made this my brain just thought all calls is more than missed calls.

[onkq]

But actually now that I think about it.

Using the already built-in feature to block numbers, I myself currently block all incoming calls (*). That doesn't get picked up as "missed calls" or even in the "call history" area.

If this is going to be written into the code in the future, even tho the numbers are blocked, they should still be replied to. And I don't know if that classifies as "missed call". So that might be why I said all calls.

EDIT: I added in "blocked numbers should also be replied to" in the issue

[naveensingh]

That doesn't get picked up as "missed calls" or even in the "call history" area.

That's how it was implemented but I think this behavior will change. Blocked calls should appear in the call log as blocked calls. Maybe we'll add a preference to show/hide blocked calls.

Note to self: SMS blocking also leaves no trace of blocked messages in the system or the app but maybe it should, somehow.

even tho the numbers are blocked, they should still be replied to

@onkq This seems counter-intuitive. I thought people block numbers because they don't want anything to do with the person/machine on the other end?

Missed calls are calls that the user wasn't able to pick up for whatever reason, blocked calls are calls that the user doesn't want to know about so nothing was 'missed' in that case.

Auto reply makes sense for missed calls only (the user wasn't able to pick up the call so the phone replies with a template response). The phone must not automatically make contact with a blocked number, who knows why the number was blocked or who's on the other end.

[inson1]

@naveensingh I think it makes sense, you dont want them know that you block them. If one day this sms stoped showing up they would know that you are sus. (but only as option?)

[naveensingh]

I haven't thought about the implementation but we could do multiple options in a Setup Auto Reply dialog like:

• Auto reply to missed calls
• Auto reply to declined calls
• Auto reply to blocked calls

I think multiple options would complicate the feature as users also need a UI to provide the template response (preferrably different response per option) but I want to hear other people's opinion on this.

[onkq]

To be fair. We only really need to auto reply to missed calls, and blocked calls. But people might have a use out of declined calls too. So I can vote for this setup if it isn't too much work.

[inson1]

I think missed and declined could have one be one option (at least for the start)
Auto reply to blocked calls should be another Feat and have lower priority

Auto replaying coud be another app, so ofc there could be lots of options - but the main feat should have higher priority (declined+missed) its really good feature

[onkq]

I guess we all have our different needs, so putting priorities on which to implement first seems unreasonable to me. Depending on what timespan you put it on. Is it long time between getting the missed vs blocked calls feature I'm not for priority. It's mostly the same UI but different structure is what I'm guessing.

As for the declined+missed calls that's probably the same UI and different structure aswell?

[inson1]

btw you "forgot" in "dreamy" implementation we could reuse template for x options and have this option even for sms (auto reply)

just too much for one feat

like I said I would just select the most important part and focus on that - that would be missed (and maybe declined) calls

@onkq you have to choose something, one small part after another

auto reply to missed calls would use more people, almost same number would use auto reply to declined calls and smaller number of people would use auto reply to blocked calls (imho)

[Rexadev]

1. Someone is calling I don't want to attend.
2. I can message and reject the call pre saved messages.
3. Messages like.

• Busy - Call you later
• Driving - Call you Later
• Call again if emergency.
• In a Class.

[vertigo220]

This could admittedly get pretty complicated, but I've always felt having more options is better, and people can use it or not. Just off the top of my head, I see a couple uses. It could be set to auto-reply a set message, either individual per number or just a general message to all numbers, to any missed call that's not manually sent a different message (see below) from a number specified to perform this action. So you could set it to do it for all contacts, for favorites, for numbers in certain groups, or just for specific numbers. It could be set to send one message to a "Family" group, another to a "Work" group, another to favorites, another to "John Smith," and so on. And this could be done via rules, with rules preceding others taking priority, so if a number fits in more than one category, they get the message for the first category in the rule list that they're in.

In addition to this, the user could set up quick replies, so if they dismiss a call, it would show the replies and they can tap one to send it, which would override the automatic one. It might even show the automatic one at the top, perhaps with an outline that gradually lights up around it (or starts lit up and gradually goes away), serving as a timer, where once time is up the automatic reply is sent, unless the user selects a different one or cancels it.