Larry wrote:

> > As has been mentioned, it's a limitation of the GSM standard.
>
> AW hogwash. It reduces unpaid airtime tying up a channel if you don't
> answer it....

Only capacity on the signalling channel is used, no airtime. That is
the same channel which is used for SMS, where you have to pay (in Ger-
many) normally 0,19 EUR for 160 byte, that is a price per MB of
1570 USD. Okay, maybe "they" want to hold this channel free because of
that, but when GSM standard was formed nobody thought SMS was a product
you could earn money with. My thoughts go in this direction: who would
let it ring longer than 30 seconds? I wouldn't.

I can handle diverts by myself, but I have chosen to divert to voice-
mail after 30 seconds, because

- I don't want to talk with the caller (at this moment)
or
- it's not a good moment to answer the call

If it's worth it I'll call back. The same when it was a known number
without voice message. In general I don't answer calls with restricted
numbers because in most cases they want to sell me something.

Cheers Dirk