How to block phone numbers in iOS 7

While the iPhone is great for keeping in touch with people, there are some folks who you'd just rather have nothing to do with altogether.

Perhaps you're getting unwanted calls from an ex or a persistent telemarketer who needs "... just five minutes of your time."

Whatever the case may be, iOS 7 includes a new feature that makes it easy for you to block selected phone numbers from calling or messaging you.

Here's how it works.

Open up the Phone app and go to your Contacts list. Select the offender in question whereupon you'll be taken to that individual's info page. Scroll all the way down to the bottom and select "Block this Caller."

Confirm, and iOS 7 alerts you that "you will not receive phone calls, messages or FaceTime from people on the block list."

But what happens if you want to block someone that isn't in your contact list? Let's say, for example, that you're being bothered by someone who would never make it into your contact list.

In that case, open up the text message and select "Contact," which should be located in the upper-right portion of the screen. From there, a small drop-down appears whereupon you should select the circled "i" located towards the right. This will take you to the info page for that number. Now, simply scroll to the bottom and select "Block this Caller."

Note that any number that has been blocked can just as quickly be unblocked via the same steps.