In this day and age where there are so many instant messengers, is calling really that necessary? We suppose in some cases it is, but given that we’re so used to texting, it might be weird to receive a call, especially if it’s coming from an unknown number.
However, Dan Mall, the CEO of Super Friendly, has created a concept for iOS that will let the caller specify the reason they are calling. This means that when a call is coming in on your phone, you will be able to see a message as to why that person is calling you so you can decide if you want to answer that call or not.
That kind of interaction has slightly less friction than a keyboard might, and both outgoing and incoming calls send and receive more context. pic.twitter.com/c46KHIUg58
— Dan Mall (@danmall) January 19, 2022
This can be useful for both known and unknown numbers. For example, if you receive a call from an unknown number, they could state the reason behind the call so you know it might not be a spam or robocall. Say you ran out of battery on your phone and you’re using someone else’s phone to call your family to let them know, so putting a message to indicate you’re not some random stranger could be useful.
Another potential scenario is when a friend or family member calls you but you’re in the middle of something, so if it’s urgent they could state it in their message and you know that you should definitely pick up that call. Keep in mind that this is currently a concept which means that it’s more like a what-if kind of scenario and there’s no guarantee Apple will make it a reality, but it sounds so good that we’re hoping that Apple (or anyone else) picks it up and implements it.