For those who have made embarrassing calls while intoxicated or have been stuck in the middle of a bad date without an escape, certain cell phone companies are offering services to save cell phone users from these sticky situations.

Virgin Mobile's Australian group has a feature that allows users in Australia to blacklist certain phone numbers before they go out at night to prevent from calling specific people.

Virgin Mobile spokeswoman Anne Green said the decision to implement the service in the United States is still under consideration, but not definite yet.

"There's always big planning involved in having a new feature," Green said.

Green said it has been wildly popular in Australia, which came out with the feature on Dec. 1, 2004.

"It's a huge global hit and has captured the world's attention," she said.

Some students said they wish the system were brought to the United States.

"I think it's a good idea. ... I look at the call list [the next morning] and say I wish I didn't make that phone call," Tom Handza (senior-marketing) said.

But Liz Valkevich (sophomore-nutrition) said she does not think it is a good idea because an emergency could occur and the person might not be able to contact the blocked people who might be needed.

"What if you blocked your parents and then got hurt?" she asked.

Green said that Virgin Mobile also has a similar blocking service in the United States called "Rescue Rings," which can save customers from potentially embarrassing situations.

Green said the service is like setting an alarm that sends you a message at a pre-determined time to get you out of a bad date or a meeting.

"Tens of thousands of people have used it, and people find that it's hilarious," Green said. "And, of course, very useful."

Jake Price (sophomore-actuarial science) said he hasn't heard of the Rescue Rings service but added that the service would prevent him from bothering his friends.

"It would be good if it's 10 o'clock at night and your friends are watching TV or doing homework," Price said. "That way you wouldn't be inconveniencing other people."

While Sprint recently partnered up with Virgin Mobile, Sprint spokeswoman Stephanie Meisse said Sprint does not currently offer a service to help prevent users for dialing certain numbers in advance, or a Rescue Rings service.

"Virgin Mobile is geared more towards a younger generation and they provide services like [that], that would attract some of them," Meisse said. "Right now, we're not planning on doing this, but we are aware of what they're doing."

She added that Sprint might consider the feature if it becomes popular.

"Certainly we'll consider it if it becomes more popular, but typically we're geared more toward a higher age range," she said.

Verizon Wireless spokesman Jim Gerace said the company does not provide the blacklisted number service and that have no plans to provide a similar service resembling Rescue Rings.

"Why would you charge for that service?" Gerace said."I think you have friends that will do it for you for free."