Configuring Phone Calls

Before you begin

About this task

Use the Phone Calls configuration to block specific phone numbers or entire area codes on your devices. You can add numbers manually or bulk import them using a plain text (.txt) or comma-separated values (.csv) file.

This configuration helps you:
  • Block specific phone numbers to prevent unwanted or unauthorized communication.
  • Restrict entire area codes to control calls from designated regions.
  • Reduce phishing and scam risks by limiting call activity.
  • Improve productivity by minimizing personal or non-business-related calls.
Note: This profile is available for Android Classic, Android Enterprise Work Managed, and Windows Mobile/CE devices.

Procedure

To configure a Phone Calls profile:
  1. Create or edit a Phone Calls profile. See Creating a Profile and Editing a Profile.
  2. In the Add Profile Configuration panel, select Phone Calls.
  3. In the Restrictions section, configure restrictions on incoming and outgoing calls for your devices.
  4. In the Phone Calls panel, select the icon to create a new list.
    1. Select the call direction (Incoming, Outgoing, Both)
    2. Select the call type (Allowor Deny)
  5. In the Add Phone Numbers section:
    • Select to import a file that contains phone numbers.
    • Select to add new phone numbers.
    Note: The imported file must meet the following requirements:
    • Plain text (.txt) format.
    • One phone number per line.
    • No more than 2000 lines.
    • Digits only. Do not use dashes, spaces, or other separators.
    Tip: For more information on managing large groups of phone numbers, see Using Wildcard Characters.
  6. Select OK. The new phone number(s) appear in the Phone Calls section.
  7. To configure these new phone number(s), enable the toggle button located on the same row.
  8. Optional: Toggle on the available options in the profile configuration:
    Option Description
    Notify Server When Call is Blocked Records all incoming and outgoing blocked calls to the server log.
    Notify Device User When Call is Blocked Displays a message to the device user when the device receives a call from a blocked phone number.
  9. Select Save.

Results

You have successfully configured the Phone Calls profile configuration for your devices to restrict incoming and outgoing calls.

Using Wildcard Characters

About this task

SOTI MobiControl supports the use of the asterisk (*) and question mark (?) wildcard characters to indicate a range of phone numbers. An asterisk matches zero or more digits and a question mark matches one digit. Use wildcard characters to simplify managing large groups of phone numbers in your Phone Calls profile configuration.

Wildcard characters help you:
  • Simplify configuration when blocking or allowing entire number ranges.
  • Save time by reducing manual data entry.
  • Maintain consistency across call restrictions.
  • Scale with dynamic or patterned phone numbers.

Example: 416* matches all phone numbers that start with 416.

Example: 444555123? matches the following phone numbers:

    4445551230
    4445551231
    4445551232
    4445551233
    4445551234
    4445551235
    4445551236
    4445551237
    4445551238
    4445551239

You can also use the two wildcard characters in combination. For example, 4??55512* matches 4325551234, but does not match 4324321234.