Hobby phones

robophoto's Avatar
VirginMobile also has a good account. They call it a PayLo plan. You have to look for it, but the plan only requires you to top up $25 every 3 months vs every month. That is what i have.
Do you all keep yours at work? I can't think of anywhere at home I would feel comfortable hiding it.
TinMan's Avatar
Do you all keep yours at work? I can't think of anywhere at home I would feel comfortable hiding it. Originally Posted by Tapper69
Your issue is the same as mine, and is the reason I switched to GV. I had several close calls in the many years I had a hobby phone, and my need to make voice calls is rare enough now (maybe once a month, thanks to the common acceptable use of texts with most girls) that GV is a much safer alternative for me.
Luke Skywalker's Avatar
I use Google voice ON my hobby phone. It's a technique called belt and suspenders.
  • jf987
  • 01-26-2013, 11:10 PM
I tossed the pre paid phone and went to Google voice on an Android phone. Totally anonymous and the GV phone number can be tied to a hobby Gmail account. You can change your # when ever u want, and your txt messages stay separate from the other texts on your phone. I've got everything password protected and best of all, GV is free. My SO could go trough my phone and would find NOTHING! Originally Posted by Dan4424
how do you change your gv phone number? i only saw a option to change it for a fee.
Alexander The Great's Avatar
I have one provider texting me at odd hours and making me feel uncomfortable about when she will eventually start calling in the middle if the night. Originally Posted by curiousal
Do other people think it's worthwhile having a hobby phone #, if hiding things from an SO isn't a consideration? I'm thinking of getting Google Voice on my cell phone and a new email address only for hobbying.

A couple of other services people might be interested in: Hushed is a Burner competitor (temporary phone numbers) and Line2 adds a second line to your smartphone for around $10/month.
There is this app that is called Text now. A customer showed me the other day it and it is really cool. You can select any number you you want and you are allowed 10 calls a day from the number that you select. You are also allowed too text with this number as many texts that you want. So in a way you are getting a new number but hiding your old number. And then when you are wanting a new number just sign up again.
TinMan's Avatar
Do other people think it's worthwhile having a hobby phone #, if hiding things from an SO isn't a consideration? Originally Posted by Alexander The Great
If that's the case, get the hobby phone instead. That is the only way to insure total anonymity. If you use it in connection with GV, you can easily change numbers without having to constantly switch phones.
NSABuddy's Avatar
Damn, am I the only one that uses my neighbor's phone for my hobby activities? Originally Posted by pyramider
ROLFLOL!!!!

I can't believe nobody else commented on your post! LOL

(you are kidding, right :-) )
Bobby Ewing's Avatar
I tossed the pre paid phone and went to Google voice on an Android phone. Totally anonymous and the GV phone number can be tied to a hobby Gmail account. You can change your # when ever u want, and your txt messages stay separate from the other texts on your phone. I've got everything password protected and best of all, GV is free. My SO could go trough my phone and would find NOTHING! Originally Posted by Dan4424
A provider actually turned me on, to google voice. It is great for texting and only uses your data plan when not on wifi. Additionally, on my iPhone, I simply log-off and it's like any other app that needs a user id and password to be activated.
Bobby Ewing's Avatar
how do you change your gv phone number? i only saw a option to change it for a fee. Originally Posted by jf987
You can set-up a new GV phone number each time you set-up a Gmail account.
cmmere's Avatar
Here's my story.

When I left town today, the one thing I forgot was my tracfone. I had condoms & everything else that goes in my hobby bag of goodies, but alas, no phone.

Upon arrival at my destination, I read some info here. Tried the burner app for iPhone. BAM! Good to go. No CVS, Wally World, calls to validate phone, etc. yes, it links to my App Store, but anonymous on the other end. That's the most important one, after all.

So, thanks for the rec to the burner app. 3-4 minutes & I was sending texts, etc. Convenience is very important at times, like when you need to communicate to a provider after your plane has landed.