Auto-Forward Phone When in Multimedia Dock

[TivoTron]

Here's another one in my quest for customizability using the multimedia dock...

Unfortunately, I have sub-par VZ service in many parts of my house. I'm considering the Wireless Extender ($249 - ouch), but until I make that call, I've been manually forwarding my cell phone to my home phone line.

Question --- would there be a way to set up a script or functionality that would tell the Droid to forward to home when in dock and un-forward when taken out of the dock... Might be kinda cool. I think one of the mobile companies used to sell a dock that did just this in the early 2000s.

 

[UncleMike]

Theoretically Tasker could do this, but I haven't been able to get it to detect that it's in the dock, even though that appears to be an option in the settings. A new beta version should be available from the developer's site soon.

What I'm thinking is that placing the phone in the dock would cause Tasker to make a phone call - dialing *71<phonenumber> to forward the calls (*71 may not be correct), and dialing *73 to cancel the forwarding when removed from the dock. Doing this would require a usable signal when your phone is in the dock though.

 

[TivoTron]

Theoretically Tasker could do this, but I haven't been able to get it to detect that it's in the dock, even though that appears to be an option in the settings. A new beta version should be available from the developer's site soon.

What I'm thinking is that placing the phone in the dock would cause Tasker to make a phone call - dialing *71<phonenumber> to forward the calls (*71 may not be correct), and dialing *73 to cancel the forwarding when removed from the dock. Doing this would require a usable signal when your phone is in the dock though.

UncleMike --- thanks for the tip. Tasker looks VERY cool and promising for this type of thing (not to mention a million other possible ideas I have). Hopefully the dev posts a new beta soon.

FYI --- this is the type of functionality I was thinking about. Would be cool if VZ built this into their docks with an app (although I suspect they prefer keeping the minutes going on their network...not forwarded elsewhere).

 

[dougwilson2000]

*71 is busy/no answer transfer and *72 is call forward. Both are canceled by *73.
*71 will try your phone first and *72 will forward right away.

 

[TivoTron]

*71 is busy/no answer transfer and *72 is call forward. Both are canceled by *73.
*71 will try your phone first and *72 will forward right away.

Thanks Doug. Yep, I've got the call-forward and call-forward-cancel all set up on the phone itself (separate icons on the home screen actually).

What I'm looking for is an app that will automatically call the call-forward # when it's in the dock, and automatically call the call-forward-cancel when it's taken out of the dock.

 

[dougwilson2000]

FYI --- this is the type of functionality I was thinking about. Would be cool if VZ built this into their docks with an app (although I suspect they prefer keeping the minutes going on their network...not forwarded elsewhere).

I would just program the numbers in my contacts with pauses (*72p******** and *73).
Then make shortcut to my desk top. That is what that device is doing. You are one click from what you want instead of always dialing the numbers. You just have to play with the pauses to get them right at first.

 

[TivoTron]

I would just program the numbers in my contacts with pauses (*72p******** and *73).
Then make shortcut to my desk top. That is what that device is doing. You are one click from what you want instead of always dialing the numbers. You just have to play with the pauses to get them right at first.

Yes - again, I have that already.

The problem I'm trying to solve for is forgetting to turn on forwarding, and more importantly forgetting to turn it OFF (i.e. when someone calls me during the day at work on my cell and it rings at my house).

 

[dougwilson2000]

Well like was stated ,you have to have service available at the time for it to work. Maybe *71 would work better for you as you will not miss any calls. Program your phone prior to getting home and cancel on your way away, at all times your phone will ring if it has a signal.

 

[TivoTron]

Program your phone prior to getting home and cancel on your way away

This is the part I was hoping to automate when Droid it put in the dock and removed from the dock. (Kinda like that AT&T dock from years past)

I have enough service that the *72 / *73 calls go through, but not enough to have a real phone conversation.

 

[dougwilson2000]

Lol we got out of order, we were typing at the same time. I have not seen an app like you want or an app that would work by time of day.

 

[jlaw]

is it possible to do a location based operation, i.e. when you are in you house?

can this same thing be done with locate? i am looking to do the same thing as well, but dock my phone at work as well (where i would not want to forward to my house land line...)

 

[kbayer]

You mean "Locale"? Looks like it would work, may be worth a try. I had pitiful service at my house as well. The Verizon Extender boosted the phone to 4 bars instantly, so I can vouch for it's effectiveness - at least for me. When I first got the Droid and saw that service was pretty much non-existent where I live, I called Verizon and they did some sort of test over the phone, then sent a tech out to verify the spotty service. They offered me the extender at a $125 discount (normaly $250) with a 30 day trial. It worked, so I'm still a happy Droider.