Ask HN: In what situations would you want your phone to call you?

1 pointschetansorted6mo ago5 comments

I’ve always faked phone calls to get out of awkward moments — waiting alone at a café, stuck in small talk, or even a meeting that’s going nowhere. Pretending worked sometimes, but honestly it often felt more awkward than the situation itself.

So I started tinkering with a small project called ComfortCall: an app that actually calls your phone from a real number with short, natural scenarios (like a friendly check-in, a colleague reminder, or a safety call).

I’ve been testing this idea with a small waitlist and people have already suggested really interesting use cases I hadn’t thought of — things like: Needing a “mom call” to gracefully leave a friend’s house Having an out when strangers stop you with uncomfortable questions Feeling safer on a late-night walk Escaping a family gathering without guilt

My question to HN: What other scenarios come to mind where a real, believable call could give you a graceful exit?

Curious to see what this community thinks — it’ll help me shape what to prioritize for the MVP.

Thanks

5 comments

eimrine6mo ago

I have no need for that, because I am an old male. But I have an idea that modern phones and/or social network are too fit to female needs and point of view, (I am called a misogynist every time I speak like this) and your feature can deliver a good use for a woman who wants to leave the friend's house and other situations from your list.

O tempora o mores - I don't want to be a friend to anyone who needs a fake impression of an incoming call with a fake speech to a fake interlocutor.

chetansortedOP6mo ago

Totally fair — it’s not something everyone would need. What I’ve found is some people (especially women, or folks dealing with social anxiety) feel much safer or more in control when they can trigger a real, short, believable call. Think of a scenario a creep following a woman walking alone, creepy taxi driver? They would feel safer triggering a call.

That’s the angle I’m exploring with ComfortCall — not fake conversations, but genuine, on-demand interruptions that give you an out when you need one.

rolph6mo ago

if it gets too far away from my keys or my wallet

chetansortedOP6mo ago

haha! can you explain?

rolph6mo ago

well its a possible excuse [i have to go find my keys]

or IRL if your phone gets too far away from any airtags on a list then it calls you.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

Ask HN: In what situations would you want your phone to call you?

1 pointschetansorted6mo ago5 comments

My question to HN: What other scenarios come to mind where a real, believable call could give you a graceful exit?

Curious to see what this community thinks — it’ll help me shape what to prioritize for the MVP.

Thanks

5 comments

eimrine6mo ago

O tempora o mores - I don't want to be a friend to anyone who needs a fake impression of an incoming call with a fake speech to a fake interlocutor.

chetansortedOP6mo ago

That’s the angle I’m exploring with ComfortCall — not fake conversations, but genuine, on-demand interruptions that give you an out when you need one.

rolph6mo ago

if it gets too far away from my keys or my wallet

chetansortedOP6mo ago

haha! can you explain?

rolph6mo ago

well its a possible excuse [i have to go find my keys]

or IRL if your phone gets too far away from any airtags on a list then it calls you.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse