Android: reject calls with automatic SMS

You are traveling, for example, or in a conference. You want to reject incoming calls on your Android phone with automatic SMS. Here's how it works.

How to automatically reject calls on your Android smartphone via SMS

1. Android phones are smart, but this feature is not part of their built-in repertoire.
2. To automatically reject calls via SMS, you need an Android app that does exactly that for you.
3. One possible option would be the free "Call Blocker" app. However, this only works for phone numbers that were previously blocked in the app.
4. The "Call You Later" Android app, which is also free of charge, is more flexible and also visually more attractive, with which you can have your own SMS sent to missed callers. Unfortunately there has been no update since 2010; and the tool is not compatible with many newer smartphones.
5. An automatic Android answering machine that also sends out-of-office text messages is "I'm driving - call later!" for currently 72 cents (April 2014). The app uses GPS to determine whether you are currently in the car and then takes over the call processing automatically for you. Here, too, the last update was four years ago in 2011.
6. The free and Android app "Send.Pause", however, is newer and more stylish.

• Our favorites are the solution via call blocker such as the "Call Blocker" or the ingenious app "Send.Pause", which allows individual settings such as exceptions for important contacts.

You can find out how to change the time until your Android mailbox comes on in another CHIP practical tip.