Call Intercept marches on

Verizon Wireless said Thursday that "Call Intercept" is available in the Puget Sound area of Washington. The $5-a-month service is supposed to protect customers from unwanted callers such as telemarketers. Washington is the 13th state where Verizon Wireless is offering the service.

Call Intercept works only for subscribers with caller ID. Incoming callers listing their numbers as "anonymous" or "unknown," a trick used by telemarketers, are asked by Verizon Wireless operators to identify themselves. Verizon Wireless records the information. It then calls the subscriber and plays back the recording. The callers can accept or decline the call.