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rebeccakris

macrumors newbie
May 30, 2009
1
0
Laws on Recording Phone Calls (from an Attorney)

Looks like someone in this post was looking for a "legal" response regarding the laws on recording phone calls. I am an attorney and will try to help direct you to the correct information on this issue. However, as an attorney, I of course must note that this is not legal advice. If you are truly concerned about the legal implications of recording phone calls, you should seek the advice of an attorney as to both federal law and the specific laws of your state, as they pertain to your PARTICULAR circumstances.

With that disclaimer-- depending on the circumstances under which you are recording phone calls, federal law, state law, or both may be apply.

If state law applies, some states require that all parties to the phone call know that the call is being recorded (of course this is in MOST circumstances--there are always exceptions). Those states include: California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

Other states only require that one party be aware that the phone call is being recorded.

In all states, a person may not record a phone call to which he/she is not a party.

For a state-by-state summary of these laws, go here: http://www.rcfp.org/taping/states.html.

Federal law generally allows the recording of a phone call so long as one party to the call is aware that it is being recorded. Again, there are exceptions. For a general summary of federal law, visit this website: http://www.callcorder.com/phone-recording-law-america.htm

I hope this helps!
 

Heidi MacDonald

macrumors newbie
Jan 6, 2009
3
0
Someone above said the Voice Memo doesn't work with phone calls, alas. However it does work great with old school interviews! Love being able to easily sync with iTunes.
 

cocky jeremy

macrumors 604
Jul 12, 2008
6,500
7,167
Is anyone asserting their legal opinion a lawyer? Didn't think so.

What do you mean "didn't think so."? No one above that post said, "no, I'm not a lawyer." Maybe one is.. maybe they all are?

Do you feel like an ass now? I thought so.

See how that works. :p
 

bvp663

macrumors newbie
Nov 14, 2006
29
7
Portland, OR
I was looking for a similar solution but for different reasons and stumbled upon this thread. I'm a sales rep for a couple of different natural food/supplement products and often have stores calling me to place orders while I'm on the road. Usually I have to tell them I'll call them back once I am stopped and have a pen and paper. Ideally, I'd just be able to record their order right there on the phone and submit it later.

Still no easy non-jailbreak solution after some extensive google searching. Maybe something will crop up eventually.
 

Ding.Dong

macrumors regular
Jun 18, 2008
199
0
Los Angeles
I figured I'd add to this ancient thread to point out that I noticed there's an update to the app "Recorder" that lets you record outgoing phone calls using an external service. You have to pay per minute for the service. I haven't used it, so I can't comment on how well it works. But, it's something to look into for people who need a way to record their calls.
 

mshackel

macrumors newbie
Aug 17, 2009
1
0
recording messages on a cell phone

You should do some research before you jump to conclusions about recording phone conversations. If you are that concerned - you should check with an attorney or simply google some web sites that deal with the subject. FYI in most states it is perfectly legal for a phone call to be recorded as long as only one party to the conversation is aware of the recording. This means my ATT 3125 which has a recording feature can be used to record a call of anyone in the state of Texas who happens to call me without notice from me. A few states, Florida for example, require two party notice, however FL and a few other states are the exceptions rather than the norm.

If you don't want to be recorded, move to Florida. However, I can still call you from Texas or you can call me from FL to TX and I can record you without your knowledge.

Once the I Phone has a recording feature, I will purchase one. Other than the crummy battery, it is a fairly decent piece of equipment.
 

susansoiree

macrumors newbie
May 5, 2008
2
0
Los Angeles
I got to this thread because I'm doing some due diligence before I build my next iPhone app. It's going to have a call recording function but it's strictly for entertainment purposes. I think I have a solution. Stand by!
 

hagared

macrumors newbie
Sep 5, 2009
2
0
This is so frustrating. I had a exactly what I needed with CallRec but it was only for PalmOs but it was perfect. If a customer called me on the phone while in my truck it would automatically record or only when I push a user defined button and then record their address what they wanted repaired, what their cell phone number is, what day they want me to start, ect.

I lose that ability because I switched to a IPhone. It would save the .MPG 's (or .wav) where ever I wanted them and at whatever quality I wanted them and it would name the files anyway I wanted them such as caller name, then time called, date and phone number of caller in whatever order I wanted it listed. It made life so easy if things got disorganized to just review the calls and get everything sorted out. I need that software bad.

If someone is going to get some ideas what to include in some call recording software look no further than CallRec.

Don't let the powers that be have you record your calls through them so you have to go to them to get your calls (Google Voice). I'm just sayin that I'm suspicious of the SDK not allowing developers access to develope something thats on every other platform. I'm just sayin... hmm.
 

SworksXC

macrumors newbie
Nov 28, 2008
12
0
NYC
Anyone know if you can get an app for iPhones (jailbroken or otherwise) for recording phone calls?

I really need this app for recording work related interviews. If there's none available I guess I'll have to get a Nokia...

The app "Recorder" has this feature for an extra in app price. I never use the Call Recording feature so I can't tell you how good it works.
1 hr recording time=$1.99
8 hr recording time=$12.99
 

hagared

macrumors newbie
Sep 5, 2009
2
0
Recorder works

It's a ok app. It could be helpful sometimes. I still would much prefer a app that I don't have to pay for minutes for one thing.

Also I don't want to have some other source to be recording my calls (that's not paranoia, it's just common sence) . They say they will transcribe it for us, how nice of them. Are they saying they won't read it? Ofcourse they will.

I think that's what the fight between Apple and GoogleVoice is about (more info), they both want to control what goes through the mic. What I think they forgot is that we control what goes through the mic.

Maybe their motives are pure but why chance it. Just make an app that I can record my calls and keep the files on my phone or locally and only I control it.

If I'm making something out of nothing they can prove it to me buy allowing developers to make a simple app that I control and not them. Simple.
 

splyb

macrumors newbie
Sep 25, 2009
1
0
Legalities

I, too, am an attorney. I've briefed this issue (twice) before Courts in Oklahoma and written a paper for a Masters-level Telecommunications Management course.

We are talking about surreptitious recording, that is, recording when neither party is aware or consents or where only one party is aware and doesn't inform the other.

1) Surreptitiously recording a conversation to which you are not a party, the classic "wiretap", is illegal without a warrant. Period - setting aside Bush-era Patriot Act government warrantless wiretaps, which is a whole other thing.

2) As for surreptitious recording by one of the parties without the knowledge/consent of the other party - which seems to be the principle concern of this thread - Federal law permits it, generally, if the party consenting is the subscriber to the "line" that is recorded. So, from the Federal perspective, it's OK to record without informing the other party if you subscribe to the phone service being used. Note: this would make it OK to record ANY conversation on a line that you "own"... even if you aren't a party to the conversation. Example: Father recording calls, on his phone line, between his children and their mother, Father's ex-wife. SNEAKY! Note: That same call, recorded by Dad on his office phone, is probably illegal - unless Dad is self-employed and is the subscriber. If not, his employer's consent would be required, as it subscribes to the line recorded.

3) State law is broken down into "one-party consent" states and "two-party consent" states. As the name implies, and as has been correctly observed within this thread, some states require the consent of both parties before a recording can be made, others don't. Query: Can you record a call, that you initiate from a one-party state, if that call is made to someone in a two-party state? IMHO, no.

Also, a distinction of context should be made. Is the recording being used to refresh the recollection of a journalist, or otherwise used simply to perpetuate information? Then it could be illegal, but who will ever find out? and who cares? are questions that should be asked. But if one tries to have a recording entered into evidence in a Court of Law, well, that's a whole other thing, too.

Hope this helps.

Jay D
 

ridgezin

macrumors member
Nov 9, 2008
31
21
Use a conferencing service

While not a direct answer to your question about an iPhone app, you can accomplish the same goal by using a teleconferencing service that offers recording of the teleconference as one of their services. I use freeteleconference.com for teleconferencing (it is indeed free for basic teleconferencing), and they offer an additional service for $9/month where they will record all of your teleconferences and make them available to you as downloadable digital soundfiles.

Scott
 

pavanbayyapured

macrumors newbie
Oct 28, 2009
1
0
Answer for Call Recorder

Simple and straight. The answer is here.

I too was looking for something like this. I used to do it with my other phone. Now, I found the answer and wanted to post it here too. It is called Recorder10. It is useful for recording calls. Find this link for more information. http://www.macnn.com/articles/09/07/21/recorder.10.update/


I hope your search ends here.:eek:

Best regards,
Pavan Bayyapureddi
 

RyanTheGeneral

macrumors regular
Sep 10, 2009
228
6
im sorry am going to be no help,

but this threads discussions were great!! lol and I did learn some from it, never thought to record my convo's have before but just with friend playing with a feature of the phone (blackberry), but have not even thought about it with the iphone.. I guess if I did it would have to be through speaker.
 

Helmigurt

macrumors member
Jul 15, 2009
96
15
Austria
A small but effective workaround is to:

1 call the person
2 press the + button and call yourself for conference
3 iPhone calls own voicemail and records after the beep
4 You recorded your call!
 

jalpert

macrumors 6502
Jan 30, 2008
304
0
So far there are no apps that can record a call without per minute charges. I, and a lot of others, are still looking for a call recorder that will save the recording locally without dealing with 3rd parties.
 

heyjasonis

macrumors newbie
Oct 29, 2009
1
0
google voice

you can record calls on google voice, however they would need to call your google voice number at this time to use there feature . but it works!!
 

sanstaste

macrumors newbie
Oct 30, 2009
1
0
Easy Answer

If you are a professional journalist, you probably have another recording device. Use the speaker phone on your iPhone and a tape recorder. I used this method to record interviews with landlines back when the iPhone was just a twinkle in Steve Jobs' eyes. It might be less convenient than directly recording onto your phone, but based on the responses to this thread "the convenient option" is absurdly complicated and not worth the trouble when you can use speaker phone and a $20 tape recorder.
 
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