Looking for call intercepting software.

I've been on a quest to find a program that will use my modem to intercept certain phone calls I program into it before the phone rings.

So far I've downloaded about a dozen different programs from websites like TuCows and Cnet and none of them seem to work.

If I program my cell phone number in to test it and then call my house phone, the program just functions like a caller ID. The phone still rings.

I'm not sure if it's because it's just a trial version to show you how it works or it's not compatible with my modem, or perhaps it won't work with the 10 digit US/Canadian telephone systems or what. I would think if the modem was a problem it wouldn't even show who is calling.

If it's not intercepting the calls because it's just a trial version, I'd gladly pay for the program once it proves it does what it promises but want to make sure it works first.

Anyone know of such a program they have had good luck with that actually works?

 

My rusty brain seems to recall that Caller ID gets its information between the 1st and 2nd ring (or is it during the 2nd ring)?

Therefore, it seems the type of program your looking for would have to filter ALL calls and then somehow "allow" the phone to ring only after the "normal" 3rd or 4th ring if the Caller ID number is not in your blacklist.

I'm sorry, I have never researched such a possibility so I have no suggestions.

 

I want the program to filter all incoming calls so the computer will pick up the phone before it has a chance to ring. That way if it's someone I don't want to talk to, it won't ring.

I also get allot of calls during the daytime. I work 12 hour shift work and get a call at least once a day and it's usually for my wife. I just let the phone ring if I don't recognize the number and let the answering machine catch it. I could lay the phone off the hook but my wife or parents may have an emergency and need to contact me. Most of the time I just roll over and fall back to sleep but other times it really disrupts my sleep.

I'm on a no-call list for telemarketers but if you do business with a company, by law they can call and hound you without your consent.

I get allot of 000-000-0000 numbers on my caller ID. That's a sneaky way for telemarketers to get around an anonymous call block.

 

I just use an answering machine that has the volume and ringtone set to low.