tel:// strikes again
this post was submitted on 29 Jan 2026
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They’ve actually fixed that on iOS. I haven’t tried with Mac OS but it probably actually prompts you to dial now. That said whoever thought it was a good idea to dial immediately should be burned at the stake.
Next they might consider just a short guardrail to avoid Siri calling someone you haven't contacted in ten years when it misunderstands you after you ask it to play a song.
Yes, I didn't drunkenly call my ex from High-School, it was Siri!
Having a setting to restrict it to favorites would be ideal.
I’ve even wondered if I want it say “just to confirm…“ for everyone… or maybe a 3 second beep countdown or a halfscreen cancel button
Same with mailto links when an app wants you to rate something and it opens up a draft email.
Stuff of nightmares....
How do people with Android phones make a reservation?
You click a tel:// link and it calls the restaurant. Or you select the number and ask the phone to call it.
AFAIK, the exact same way iOS does it. Just without using Apple services (nor Google services on this case).
It usually populates the phone number into the dialler, but doesn't call them immediately.
From what OOP's tweet sounds like, you hit a link, and it begins dialling out immediately.
I find the "Make Reservation link" that takes me to an automated sited like Open Table.
If the only option is to call, I just don't make the reservation.
Easy, google uses all of your personal information to manipulate you into going at a time of their choosing based on who pays them the most in ad dollars.
If it can't be done with a simple web form that lets me pick an available time slot then I'll make a reservation somewhere else.
If that ever happened to me, I would take my shirt off and hold my phone at arm's length.
If I have to be uncomfortable, they have to be uncomfortable too.
Worst UX i've ever heard, holy shit
I'm really glad my first (part time) job as a fresh-out-of-highschool 17 year old required me to call about 5-6 companies/people per workday. A good number of whom where existing business relations, so not a whole lot of room to fuck up.
First week was really anxiety-inducing, because I HATED making phone calls.
After that, no issue. Today, I'd 1000% rather call a doctor's office, restaurant, plumber,... Than write an email. Online forms are fine, but phone calls are just better. You can get the back and forth often needed for planning done in like 5 seconds.
I had that up until my thirties, I just could not handle the intensity of those awkward silences or miscommunications and if I had to have a phone call, would actively race my mind desperately searching for a way to fluidly fill them.
Now: "yeah whatdyou want? alright bye. Yeah, yeah he did do that. Yeah, bye. Huh? Oh his birthday? yeah." *click*
Interesting, that sounds more related to personal phone calls?
I was more thinking of the "single-purpose" kind of call, where you can communicate very clearly about your intetions
I've seen this many many times before but usually someone comments with links that this never actually happened. Apparently it's just made up?
This makes me feel old. I would prefer that over the typical BS. I'm 37.
Older than me, surely. I'm only 49.
What is this? The middle ages?