Calling Cells

Reliably connect with an ever-growing group

Most US households use cell phones, and every year fewer keep a landline. If you are not calling these voters, you are missing outreach, potential supporters and future advocates.

For Stones' Phones this has always been a First Amendment issue. Campaigns and causes have a right to express their views, and that right was hindered by the high cost of calling cell phones. Stones' Phones fought and won a Supreme Court case to make cell phone calling accessible to every organization. Before that ruling only well-funded causes, those able to pay three times as much, could call cells. Now any cause can call or text them.

If you only text cell users, you are not covering all your bases. When you need to cut through the noise, live calls to cell phones make the difference.

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How it works

Cell phone scrubbing: what you need to know

Why scrub

When calling off a voter file, the FCC prohibits any automated dialing system from calling cell phones without the called person’s permission. The fine is up to $16,000 per cell dialed. So we go further than the data providers do.

Our standard

Voter List Online, Catalist, TargetSmart, L2 and NGP VAN deliver lists that have been through a scrub such as Neustar or Telco. We run a second scrub on every list using the Wireless Block Identifier, which covers more than 700,000 blocks of numbers assigned to wireless carriers in the United States and Canada, and the Ported Number lists, which catch numbers moved between landline and cell. We do not call a number that has ever been a cell.

When cells can be called

Organizations, nonprofits and unions can call cell numbers their members or supporters provided. Campaigns can call cells from a dialer only with explicit permission, but hand-dialed calls are allowed. Hand dialing takes operators longer and costs roughly three times more, and it is an option when you need it.

When it is too expensive

Manual texting reaches cell-only voters at about one-eighth the cost of hand-dialed live calls. We script the message to fit 160 characters. See texting.

Case studies

Calling Cells programs that delivered

Can I call cell phones and landlines in the same phone program?
Yes, you can call both landline and cells in the same program, the cost per completed call will just reflect the cell phone pricing.

Calling Cells: frequently asked questions

Can I call cell phones and landlines in the same phone program?

Yes, you can call both landline and cells in the same program, the cost per completed call will just reflect the cell phone pricing.

Can you call cells for auto-call programs?

It depends on the nature of the call. If you are calling your members or the calls are for a health emergency, we can call cells. Otherwise, we cannot call cells for auto-calls. We do, however, offer a live auto-call option, which can reach cells and landlines.

Can I do an auto-patch program to cell phones?

No, auto-patches can only be made to landlines, unless you have expressed consent from your cell phone records.