Hobby Phone suggestions

Doesn't offer all the benefits of a throw away, but works nicely. Originally Posted by ATXMook

Actually, I would argue that it offers none of the benefits of a throwaway and that, other than giving providers a number that doesnt ring to you, it accomplishes nothing for privacy.

Google keeps a track of all calls and texts through there as well as the IP / Phone Number they come from.

I have and do use Google Voice, but exclusively through burner phones so that I call from the same number when talking to ladies.

Personally, I see no reason to keep the phone more than 3 months. After that, hand it, with whatever minutes are on it to some homeless guy to make whatever calls he wants... he'll throw it away for you when its done.

I think that T-Mobile has the cheapest plan. You can pick up a Nokia phone (with sim card and texting)) for $17, and spend just $90/year to keep it active. For each $90, you get 1000 minutes that last a full year, and rollever when you buy the next refill. That works out to 9 cents/minute total. No taxes, fees, or surcharges. Texting costs 10 cents to send and 5 cents to receive.

Buy your refills from callingmart.com.

You can still activate online (this may be changing soon).

If anyone knows of another plan that costs less than $7.50/month, I'd like to hear about it. Originally Posted by ofcoursenot

I would avoid buying refill cards or refills online.

When I got my AT&T phone, I bought it and the refill card at Walmart with cash and went through an offshore proxy to activate the phone.

None of this guarantees privacy, but it puts it beyond any reasonable effort that most LE agency would put forth to track down a lone hobbyist.

thanks for the suggestions. i think im going to go with a trac phone

Try Google Voice (search Google for the link) - some features:

- free google # number

- use your google number and the call will be forwarded to your cell - that way no one knows your cell #

- you can change your google number any time - just go get a new number(s) - it's all free - and then again hook it up to transfer all the calls from the new number to your cell.

- you can call out through your google number from your cell - and when the caller receives your call - it looks like it's coming from a generic google number or from your google number or from your cell - you pick.

- it has voice mail - and if you want it will transcribe the voice mail and sent it as an email to your gmail account.

Those are the highlights - this is great. With this - you don't really need a hobby phone - all your hobby calls are hidden via your google acct. - really cool and again ITS ALL FREE!!!

I use google voice, you can make calls and send and recieve texts also. And its free ..

Another advantage of Google Voice is when at a PC, logged into Google, you can send SMS texts straight from the PC, and they go through as sent from your Google number.

Viability of Google Voice in hobby depends on how you use it.

If you're suggesting using Google Voice number ringing your personal/business, everyday phone, then no.

If you're suggesting having your throw-away Google account with Google Voice ring your hobby phone, then yes.

I only enable the Google Voice to ring through immediately before an appointment, so that we can do the call when you're here routine. At all other times, it just goes to Google Voicemail. Then the message is transcribed and emailed to me, where I can see it on my mobile. If I need to return the call, an app installed on the phone allows me to login to the service, dial via normal, but select Call Using Google Voice. It then dials a service phone number (thus no trace of the actual number is left on your phones call log), which relays to the number you have dialed. The lady is presented the caller ID you've established with the service, not your real caller ID. When business is finished, I logout, exit the app, and no hobby call can come to my phone.

SMS text traffic is handled by the mobile app as well, and shows up in its inbox, not passed on to your phone unless you elect to. Your outbound txt's are all handled by the mobile app, not your handset's SMS function. Again, no on-phone history to accidently forget to delete. It has worked great for me. I would have more difficulty explaining an extra phone if found. The Google Voice also has it's own phone book, so you can store the lovely's number and recall it by name.

I've actually turned several of my lovely lady friends onto the service, and they love it. Did I mention its FREE?