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TrapCall Review- Literally a trap for annoying calls

TrapCall Review

What It Is, How It Works, And How It Affects You

Are you tired of unknown callers spamming up your call history? How many 1-800 numbers can possibly exist in one lifetime? Maybe your sick and tired of telemarketers getting your number regardless of the Do Not Call lists you’ve signed up for.

Here’s where TrapCall comes in.

What It Is

TrapCall is an app you can use to “unmask” blocked or unknown callers. They also allow for a more permanent Blacklist solution and can automatically block robocalls. This subscription-based app offers a variety of privacy and protection features for each payment tier. Sounds great, right?

There’s some debate on this. While users of TrapCall love the features, some dissident voices claim it’s dangerous. Domestic Abuse advocates, especially, have cried foul. They claim that TrapCall takes away anonymity options that can protect victims who must contact their abusers for any reason (e.g. child custody and visitation).

However, TrapCall defenders return that the app was made with abuse survivors in mind. It allows them to know who is contacting them, when, and why. This, they say, keeps the ex from hiding behind *67.

So, is TrapCall beneficial? Detrimental? Read on, and we’ll let you decide.

Who Makes It

TrapCall was designed by the minds at TelTech, who make it pretty clear what they’re all about:

Our passion is the development of innovative, yet practical, communications products. We work hard to create apps that people really want [sic] and we believe that a great product can touch millions of people, changing the way they use telecom and mobile apps.

Based in New Jersey, this telecommunication tech group focuses primarily on apps that enhance the user experience in our ever-connected digital society. In addition to TrapCall, their portfolio also includes RoboKiller, TapeACall, SpoofCard, and No More Voicemail.

What it Does

Based on your Subscription Tier—Basic, Premium, or Ultimate— you’ll gain access to a combination of features.

Unmask Calls

TrapCalls main claim to fame is the ability to reveal who is behind callers listed as Unknown, No Caller ID, Blocked, Restricted, etc. When the calls come in, users simply decline to send the caller through TrapCall’s identification system. The call will then ring back through with the associated name and number.

Automatically Block Spam

This feature works differently for iPhone and Android users.

For iPhone, TrapCall references a Global Spam List. If any number from the GSL attempts to call you, they are automatically redirected to a message saying that your phone is out of service before being disconnected. Your phone never rings, and the callers cannot leave a voicemail.

For Android, you have two options. If you enable Call Blocking permissions, then this service works the same as iPhone. However, if you don’t activate these permissions, TrapCall will alert you when a call is Spam. The call isn’t automatically blocked, giving you the option to answer.

If you receive a call from a number that is flagged as Spam but is from a contact you are expecting, you can whitelist that number to prevent any important calls from being missed.

Blacklist Harassing Callers

If pesky telemarketers and spam calls (or that one ex) refuse to give up, you can send them to the Blacklist. When a caller is Blacklisted, then any calls from their number are redirected to a message claiming that your phone number is no longer in service before they are disconnected. Good riddance!

Get Names and Faces with Live ID

Premium and Ultimate users on iPhone can now potentially receive a name, face, and physical address when they run numbers through TrapCall. They can then choose whether to answer or send the call to voicemail.

When TrapCall Live ID successfully identifies a caller in this manner, the information is automatically saved to their contact profile.

Record Incoming Calls

Ultimate Subscribers can choose to record calls with the push of a button. Be aware of the laws in your area! In the United States, some states require that you alert the other party of the recording, while others state both parties must consent. Yet more areas will admit recordings as evidence regardless of the other party’s awareness. TrapCall automatically plays a warning to the caller if you choose to record a call; you can deactivate this warning in your settings if laws permit.

Privacy Lock

Some services— VOIP callers, or other alternate line services— cannot be unmasked as they are routed through a company or don’t have a number to show. When this happens, Privacy Lock will route declined calls through a message that asks the caller to state who they are. When the call comes back through to you, TrapCall will play the recording and then give you three options: accept, hang up, or send to voicemail.

And More:

Better Voicemail

Manage Your Account Online

Missed Call Reminders

Read Voicemail as Text

Reverse Number Lookups

The Plans

Your coverage is based on how much you agree to pay per month, though you have the option to cancel your subscription at any time with no penalty.

Basic: $3.95/mo.

Unmask Blocked Calls, Blacklist Harassing Numbers, 10 Reverse Number Lookups per month

Premium: $7.95/mo.

Unmask Blocked Calls, Blacklist Harassing Numbers, Spam Protection, Privacy Lock, Missed Call Alerts, Name & Address Caller ID, 50 Revers Number Lookups per month, 10 Voicemail Transcriptions per month, Call Recording

Ultimate: $19.95/mo.

Unmask Blocked Calls, Blacklist Harassing Numbers, Spam Protection, Privacy Lock, Missed Call Alerts, Live Caller ID, Name & Address Caller ID, Unlimited Reverse Number Lookups, Unlimited Voicemail Transcriptions, Call Recording

How to Install

Go to Google Play or the App Store and search “TrapCall.” You should see a symbol with the blue and green speech bubbles in the logo above. Make sure it’s the service from TelTech! Once you install TrapCall, open the app and follow the instructions to set up your phone. The app will then have you copy a string of numbers to your Dialer. Hit your call button so that your phone dials every number, hashtag or pound sign, and asterisk. You’re all set!

How to Use

Once you’ve activated TrapCall on your phone, the app will run any call that you initially decline through its identification database. The call will then ring back through to you with more information, and you can make the final decision to accept the call, send it to voicemail, or disconnect.

How to Blacklist a Number

In your app, go to the Blacklist tab and select “Add.” Type in the number and a label before pressing “Blacklist Number.”

How to Record a Call

Record any incoming call by going to the Settings tab and enable “Record Calls.” Read the prompt and then press “Continue.” Whenever you decline a call, it will ring back through TrapCall and be automatically be recorded. Recorded calls are stored in your app, and you can listen to them at any time.

How to Transcribe a Voicemail

If you use TrapCall for your voicemail, visit the “Voicemail” tab. Click on the message you wish to have transcribed. You will be given the opportunity to listen to the voicemail, delete it, blacklist the number, or request a transcription of the voicemail. Transcriptions are sent as either texts or emails depending on your settings.

Specs

TrapCall is currently running on Version 6.3.3 and requires 13.98 MB of space for download. Over a million customers have downloaded this app, and the Google Play store shows a rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars. The app is rated “E for Everyone.”

What Carriers

TrapCall works with AT&T, Cricket, MetroPCS, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Verizon, and business class C-Spire

What Operating Systems

No iPhone? No problem! TrapCall works with both Android and iPhone operating systems.

What Permissions

Contacts

Read and modify

Identify accounts

Telephone

Call numbers directly

Read and identify phone status

Storage

Modify or delete SD card contents

Read SD card contents

Other

Run at startup

View network connections

Prevent sleeping

Receive data from the internet

Control vibration

Full network access

Change audio settings

Pros / Cons

TrapCall has some obvious benefits. No more robocalls, recordings that can help build police reports and court cases, the ability to know who is calling you and why regardless of their own settings, better voicemail management and access, and more. It almost sounds too good to be true— others agree.

TrapCall has three main downsides. They can only accept credit cards for their subscriptions— no checks allowed. They do not offer a warranty or guarantee. And, most importantly, they are part of the privacy and ethics in the digital age controversy.

Many phone users are familiar with the old *67 trick to block their number when calling someone else. Several new apps are available that allow you to call through a false number, alternate number, or even a website to protect your information. So how does TrapCall see through all of this?

By taking advantage of an old rule. When calling a 1-800 number, your information cannot be blocked. This is because Toll-Free lines are paying to receive calls. TrapCall’s activation code basically reprograms your phone so that when you press ‘decline,’ calls are automatically routed to TrapCall’s 1-800 number. Some claim that this is a shady way to access information and then share it with the user.

Another debatable tactic is the Blacklist message. When using blacklist messages and automatic spam protection, callers are redirected to a message claiming your phone is no longer in service and then disconnected. The issue here is that you are allowing a company to misrepresent you; outright lying to avoid and prevent unwanted calls. Not all users are comfortable with the idea.

Let’s not forget the debate we discussed at the beginning regarding domestic abuse victims and others in similar situations. The good news for these cases is that you can still use apps like Hushed that offer alternate numbers. The information provided to TrapCall is the Hushed number information; they will have to use Privacy Lock and ask you to give your name to know who is calling. The same goes for burner numbers; apps give you a temporary number that you can use for as long as you like before discarding.

Breaking It Down

Privacy and protection both combine and collide with TrapCall. The app offers peace of mind from blocked, restricted, and unknown numbers, but it blurs the line between ethical service and cheating privacy invader. The three plans fit a variety of needs, and you don’t have to use all the features if any make you uncomfortable. Ultimately, the decision is up to you.

The post TrapCall Review- Literally a trap for annoying calls appeared first on Hushed.

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brandonxnellis · 7 years ago

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Burner phones- What’s the story?

Why You Should Consider Using a Burner Phone

Burner phones are disposable mobile phones that provide additional security and anonymity. You’ve likely become familiar with them being utilized in any number of Hollywood films where nefarious individuals participating in organized crime found them to be quite useful.

We don’t support the act of organized crime, because one, you shouldn’t be a jerk, and two, it’s illegal. But we do support the use of burner phones for a range of other use cases, none of which involve crime or anything particularly “shady”.

Let’s dig in shall we…

WHAT ARE BURNER PHONES AND HOW DO THEY WORK?

A burner phone can be either an app or a standalone phone that allows you to create a temporary, or unidentifiable phone number that can’t easily be traced back to you as a person.

These phones keep can help your identity anonymous and your privacy intact for a very affordable price. For the stand-alone option, prepaid phones eliminate the hassle of dealing with an extra phone bill while keeping your privacy completely secure. Burner apps, such as Hushed (https://hushed.com/), are even more convenient, allowing you to enjoy all of the benefits of a “throwaway” phone without having to even buy one. Simply install the app on your existing smartphone and you’re off to the races so to speak.

Burner phones protect your identity from even the most powerful government groups; even the NSA doesn’t have the ability to track you.

But, how does that even work? Well, the secret to how burner phones work merely lies in how a user (individual making the call) is identified. Which is to say, they are not identified.

Your identity remains largely “off the grid” and away from prying eyes. Burner phone carriers do not know who is using their phone/app, and for those that do, this is in no way disclosed publicly or through any means of Caller ID or the like. That said, if ultimate privacy is your core goal, you’ll want to check with the specific Terms of Service with the particular app or phone carrier to better understand what data they do have or keep on you, and to whom (or what government agencies) it may be disclosed and under what circumstances.

Now that you have a general idea of what burner phones are, let’s explore the two main types…

PHYSICAL BURNER PHONES

Physical burner phones are the exact opposite of any existing smartphone that most people have today. In fact, they look very similar to those old school flip phones that people used to use when they had long, irrational arguments with their boyfriend or girlfriend, specifically so they could slam the phone shut as hard as they possibly could. Burner phones give you the same phone slamming ability as a regular flip phone, although it is not recommended that you do so.

Burner phones are great because they are extremely lightweight and small, so you’ll never feel like you’re actually carrying around two phones, despite that you are technically carrying around two phones. Because they’re compact, your wallet will still be able to fit gracefully into your pocket with room to spare.

When you purchase a burner phone, you will have the option of multiple per-minute calling plans or calling cards with a certain number of texts and minutes of your choice that lasts for a certain amount of time.

They work on almost every carrier by default, and there is no contract that locks you into keeping the phone. It is quite possibly the cheapest version of a cell phone that you can rightfully own. The best part about it is that, when you run out of time or minutes, you can either purchase more, or you can simply throw the phone away along with the disposable phone number.

BURNER PHONE APPS

Another option is to use the Burner app. These apps can take your contact information and redirects it to a completely unique and temporary phone number. This phone number generally does not have the ability to access any information other than what you choose to allow it to access.

Even if you choose to connect your phone app to a third party app such as Dropbox, Slack, or Evernote, your personal information still remains completely secure and private. Connecting to a third party app may allow you to automatically archive and texts and pictures that would otherwise get wiped out as soon as you delete your temporary number.

BURNER PHONE BENEFITS

As mentioned before, burner phones can be a very beneficial addition to your personal or business technology stack, so let’s review what the benefits actually are.

Anonymity and Privacy

Your personal data and information are generally safe and protected (in many cases not even logged at all). Nobody will be able to access your personal phone number nor will any other information stored on your device be revealed.

Temporary and Convenient

There are no contracts that come with burner phones, so you can choose to use a temporary phone number for as little or as long as you need. Temporary phone numbers are also disposable, so not only is your personal information untraceable but so is the temporary phone number after you are finished using it. Likewise, most apps don’t have “service” contracts in the same way that phone plans do, and you can generally cancel or opt out from the service at any time without notice.

Pay for Only What You Need

Since contracts don’t exist, there are no plans that you need to sign up for; in other words, there are no bills or hidden fees. This means that you have the freedom to choose your own pricing based on your personal needs. You get exactly what you pay for. Nothing more, nothing less.

Secure Data

Cell phone carriers have the ability to collect user data and information which they use for their own benefit. For example, the data that ISPs and carriers collect is generally used for ads, and analyzing people’s interests and cell phone habits. Burner phones, on the other hand, do not have this ability, therefore your data remains safe. Unlike carriers, they have no interest in collecting your data for any reason whatsoever. And even in cases where metadata might be collected (read the services TOS for particulars), this data is not usually tied to you or your name.

THE PURPOSE OF BURNER PHONES

So, why would someone want to remain anonymous if they’re not actually in the mafia? Or planning a bank robbery? Or trying to hide any other illegal activity? Well, there are tons of (completely legal) reasons why burner phones are extremely useful!

Below are some of the most common uses for burner phones that won’t land you in jail.

DATING AND ONLINE DATING

How many times have you given out your phone number to someone you just met and, as it turns out that they are creepy, or annoying, or both. The last thing you want is a stalker who just won’t leave you alone, so giving out a temporary phone number is a lot safer than giving some random stranger your number who seemed to be nice, but is now stalking you on every social media platform you have. Burner phones or apps give you the ability to choose when you fully trust someone, without giving them the chance to look up your information.

EMERGENCIES

It is required by law that every phone has the ability to call 911 in an emergency, even if that phone is not connected to a carrier. So, just by having access to one of these phones, you will still be able to call for help whether or not your phone has minutes. Eventually, we all run into situations where our phone is dead, our charger is broken, or we just blew out a tire by running over that pothole that never seems to be fixed. And, you’re alone on a highway. At 3 in the morning. In emergency situations like that, you’ll be thankful that you decided to purchase an extra emergency burner phone just in case you ever need to use it.

ELIMINATE JUNK TEXTS

We’ve all filled out enough forms (both on and offline) to know that companies requiring that we provide them with our phone number often end up sending us unwanted spam texts on the regular. Those spam texts can get annoying, and fast.

A temporary number is the perfect solution in order to combat the barrage of unwanted solicitations, call, and text messages. Furthermore, it blocks your other apps from collecting that data and using it against you by trying to sell you something. For example, Facebook ads. Don’t let them know what you do, otherwise, all you’ll see is a never-ending stream of ads in your newsfeed.

BUSINESS NUMBER

Temporary numbers can help to keep your business life separate from your personal one. Especially for contracted work or a job that only lasts for so long, a burner phone with a temporary number will keep your main phone uncluttered and organized.

BUYING OR SELLING ONLINE

When it comes to buying or selling products online, there is a good chance that the person you are buying from or selling to is someone you don’t want to have your personal phone number.

Sometimes you’ll get lucky and meet a new friend, but other times you’ll find yourself applying for a restraining order due to unjustified harassment. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of “crazy” out there in the world, and you need to take precautions, especially when dealing with strangers and money.

And because our personal phone numbers are attached to almost every app and social media platform, a disposable phone number eliminates any chance of them finding out more information than you expected them to. When it comes down to it, if it involves the internet, never give out your personal and permanent information.

AUTO REPLY BOT

Burner phones are great for more than just protecting your personal information but they can also be useful tools for setting up auto-reply bots. If you are a freelancer or an entrepreneur, automated messages are extremely popular and help to keep that connection going by auto-replying to customers. But, using your personal phone number can get overwhelming, cluttering up your phone and intermingling with personal conversations.

GROUP EVENTS

When you connect your burner number to a storage app like Dropbox, it will actually allow you to set up a feed where multiple people can contribute to the conversation. This usage is great for events like parties and weddings where people can use that number to automatically upload photos to a Dropbox folder instead of constantly harassing your friends to send you pictures.

CONS OF USING A BURNER PHONE OR APP

There are always a few downsides to a good thing. Fortunately, the downsides to using a burner phone aren’t life-threatening but, here are some possible flaws:

USE IT OR LOSE IT

Your prepaid minutes do, in fact, expire. So, if you don’t use them within a certain period of time, they are gone forever. Luckily, buying minutes doesn’t exactly break the bank, but losing minutes can be irritating.

FEATURES ARE (IN SOME CASES) LIMITED

Burner phones are not smartphones; they don’t have internet access, you can’t go on Facebook, they don’t have a camera, and a lot of them don’t even connect to wifi. But, then again, that’s what your smartphone is for.

NUMBERS DO NOT NORMALLY TRANSFER

If you switch carriers or the phone is deactivated, your temporary phone number cannot be transferred to a new device. This could pose as a potential problem if you happen to use your burner number for business, but keep in mind that these numbers are not actually meant to be transferable. If they were, then they wouldn’t be temporary.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

All in all, you can’t really go wrong with a temporary number and, more importantly, burner phones are a cheap safety net in times of an emergency. So, the next time you give out your number to someone you just met, think twice about what could go wrong, and then remind yourself that temporary numbers do exist. And then get a burner phone!

The post Burner phones- What’s the story? appeared first on Hushed.

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brandonxnellis · 7 years ago

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Tracfone Review-The Not So New Kids on the Block

We’ve all been there. Staring at prices, comparing contracts, pricing phones. Do we need the latest in iPhone, or should we go with the Pixel? Do we want to commit to Verizon for two years, or try out T-Mobile? Do we really need that much data or unlimited texting? Can we afford this?

TracFone offers an affordable alternative to the standard phone service. Rather than locking you into a contract, they let you pay as you go. Plans range from 30 days to a year with a varied amount of talking, texting, and data. If you run out? Just refill your minutes. Don’t use all of them? They rollover. And the best part? No contracts. You can come and go as you please, and the only penalty will be a loss of your rollover streak.

Just What is TracFone?

TracFone is a budget-friendly alternative to contracts from mainstream networks like Sprint and Verizon. If you aren’t a heavy browser or cellphone user in general, a TracFone plan may be the perfect alternative. With access to all the major cell networks, TracFone has pretty good coverage across the US— though, it works better in cities. Rural areas tend to get spottier with network access.

The Company Behind the Product

TracFone Wireless, Inc. is based out of Miami, FL. The company is currently America’s largest prepaid cell phone provider in the US. Established in 1996 under the moniker Topp Telecomm Inc, they created the niche of no-contract plans. They’ve since grown to be the fifth largest mobile phone company in the United States, with millions of users taking advantage of their cheap, flexible pricing.

TracFone Wireless maintains brands Net10 and StraightTalk in addition to the namesake TracFone. Others they have acquired include GoSmart, Page Plus Cellular, Simple Mobile, Total Wireless, and Walmart Family Mobile.

What can TracFone Do for You?

Unbeatable Coverage

TracFone is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator. This means they rent excess capacity from cellular network operators like Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint. Because they have access to most major cellular networks, TracFone’s coverage area is expansive. Their site boasts a “national footprint covering 99% of the US population.”

TracFone allows users access to 4G LTE networks without making you sign away your soul for so many years.

Unlimited Carryover

Tracfone plans operate under two major components: quantity and service days. Each plan offers a set number of units for talking, texting, and data that last a set amount of days. If you refill your plan before the service days run out, then any unused units will continually rollover. You will never cap out on how much can carry over, but you must keep your phone active to maintain your carryover. If you deactivate your account or allow your service days to run out, you lose everything you’ve saved up.

Flexible Plans

TracFone offers plans for smartphones and basic phones that range from $10 for 30 days to $200 for a year. Talking, Texting, Data, and Time Frame vary for each plan, so you can find what works best for you. Run out of minutes or data? You can add-on more no matter the time of the month. Don’t use everything? It won’t go to waste. As long as you keep your account in active service, your unused benefits will continue to roll over.

BYOP(N)

Do you happen to like your current phone? Is your number tied to a home business, or is it simply too much hassle to hand out a new number to all of your contacts? TracFone will let you use an existing phone and/or number. The only caveat for the number is you must be transferring it from an active service; you can’t go back to the number you had in high-school.

Auto Refill

If you find the plan that fits your budget and use case perfectly, you can save a little scratch by enrolling in auto-refill. This feature also ensures that you never miss refreshing your plan before the last service day, so you don’t have to worry about going inactive and losing your number. Only certain plans qualify for auto-refill, so you’ll have to be sure the plan you like has the option before you can benefit.

Breaking Down the Plans

TracFone plans come several flavors, giving you ample opportunity to find the one that works best for you. You can mix and match as the year goes by, getting larger plans for busier cell months and smaller plans for lighter months. You know your schedule and cell usage better than anyone— let’s find a plan to fit.

Smartphone Plans

Cost Auto-Refill Minutes Texts Data Service Days $125 $118.75 1500 1500 1.5 GB 365 $50 N/A 750 1500 2.0 GB 90 $45 N/A 750 1000 1.5 GB 90 $35 $33.25 500 1000 1.0 GB 60 $25 $23.75 500 1000 500 MB 60 $20 N/A 300 1000 1.0 GB 30 $15 $14.25 200 500 500 MB 30

Using TracFone no longer means resigning yourself to a clunky beast for emergency use only (and otherwise hiding in the dash). TracFone has evolved with the times, now offering plans for smartphones including minutes for talk, a set number of texts, and a set amount of data.

Basic Phone Plans

Cost Auto-Refill Minutes

for Talk, Text, & Web

Service Days $199.99 N/A 1500 365 $159.99 N/A 1000 365 $99.99 N/A 400 365 $79.99 $71.99 450 90 $39.99 $35.99 200 90 $29.99 $26.99 120 90 $19.99 $17.99 60 90 $9.99 $8.99 30 30

If the typical smartphone is a bit too fancy for you, then you’re in the right place with the basic plans. Basic phone plans are simpler and don’t have as many bells and whistles. Talk, text, and web share from a pool of minutes— One minute per minute of talking, one minute per minute of browsing, and 0.3 of a minute for each text received and each text sent.

Service Add-Ons

Cost Addition $10 International Long Distance $10 1.0 GB of Data $5 1000 Texts

Would you like fries with that? Sometimes we need a little extra; TracFone is ready. They offer simple service add-ons such as a ten-dollar card to tread international long distance calls with local rates or an additional gig of data.

How to Get Started

If you decide to give TracFone a try, activation is pretty simple. In fact, you could say it’s as easy as A-B-C, 1-2-3.

Browse for a Phone or Keep Your Current One

The first step is deciding what to do for a phone. You can browse online through TracFone’s current selection; they’ll even narrow down the options based on where you’ll use your phone the most. You can also buy a SIM card if your phone and network are compatible with TracFone.

Don’t forget to protect your phone! TracFone offers two protection plans based on your chosen phone’s compatibility. The Mobile Protect Plus grants Lost and Stolen coverage, wear and tear, out of warranty malfunction, and accidental damage (e.g. cracked screens or water damage) with a mobile support app for a monthly payment.

The 13- or 24-month coverage offers mechanical & electrical coverage, accidental damage, and the mobile support app for a one-time payment.

Activate Your Service

Once you’ve settled on the phone, it’s time to activate your plan. You can do so through the website or by calling 1-800-867-7183. You must have an airtime plan ready to activate.

Fill, Refill, or Autofill

To enjoy all the benefits of TracFone, and to ensure you don’t lose any carryover, you need to stay on top of your service. Running out of minutes or data won’t deactivate your account, but going past the last service day before refilling will.

The first time you purchase an Airtime Service Plan, you fill your phone with minutes for talking, a set amount of texts, and a set amount of data. After, be sure to refill your phone whenever you get low or reach the last few days of your service period.

TracFone also offers a service called AutoFill for quite a few of their plans. With AutoFill, you get a slight discount and your card will automatically charge your card on the last day of your current service period.

Benefits v. Downsides

Tracfone wins a lot of customers through their no contract, pay as you go plans. They’ve grown in popularity as they’ve expanded their network coverage by renting from the Big 4 and offering unlimited carryover for talk, text, and web. TracFone’s phone supply has expanded to include more elite phones like the Samsung Galaxy and the iPhone, but they also let you bring your own phone (as long as its compatible) and keep your current number. You can also breathe easy knowing that overage charges, activation fees, and deactivation/cancelation fees don’t exist.

On the flipside, while the phone models are starting to include heavy hitters, these hitters are older models. You won’t have the glam of the latest tech to hit the market when you use a prepaid plan through TracFone unless you buy it from someone else. Coverage can be pretty spotty in rural areas, as well. If you’re a heavy data user, Tracfone may not be right for you. Price per gig is pretty poor, and unlimited data doesn’t exist. You always get to use Wi-Fi for free, so you may not need all that jazz. If you do, however, you’ll be singing the blues instead with TracFone.

Is TracFone Right for You?

In Today’s digital age, phone needs are as varied as clothing and music styles. One size certainly does not fit all. If you’re looking for a simple plan for the occasional use and don’t really need a lot of data, TracFone could be your Goldilocks moment— just right.

The post Tracfone Review-The Not So New Kids on the Block appeared first on Hushed.

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brandonxnellis · 7 years ago

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Throwaway Phones, What’s the story?

You’re texting you Tinder date, and things start to get weird. They start sending pictures you don’t want or saying aggressive things. They give your number to a few friends. Suddenly, you wish they didn’t know your phone number at all…but it’s too late. That’s when you’d need a throwaway phone.

Or you give your phone number to someone on Craigslist – “I’ll be at Walmart at 5 to buy the mirror – call me if you can’t find me!” Soon, you find out you’ve become a victim of identity theft.

The reason? Simple, you gave out your personal phone number. Bad move. But don’t worry, this article isn’t about telling you how you may (or may not have) messed up, but rather show you how to avoid those kinds of situations in the first place.

Because of these and other privacy concerns, a growing number of individuals are turning to “burner phones” or “throwaway phones” to protect their privacy and personal information. Throwaway phones are temporary, low-cost, prepaid phones that can literally be “thrown away” when the user is finished with them.

So, if you’re texting a date, and your date goes bad – throw the phone away and get a new one. If you want to meet up with a Craigslist seller or buyer, and you aren’t sure whether they’re trustworthy, give them a burner number. Then, discard the phone and the phone number whenever you’re done.

For some people, buying a flip phone, keeping track of two phones, and remembering to refill minutes is too much of a hassle. Apps have stepped up to mimic throwaway phones from your smartphone, offering unique phone numbers, dedicated texting, and calling, and the ability to discard a phone number if something goes wrong in a relationship.

Keep reading to learn more about throwaway phones and throwaway phone apps, determine which is better for you, and find out how to get started:

What is a throwaway phone?

As outlined above, there are two types of throwaway phones:

Physical phones

Apps that mimic throwaway phone features

Physical Throwaway Phones

Physical throwaway phones are generally cheap flip phones (most people don’t buy something expensive if they plan on throwing it away). Individuals purchase a cheap flip phone, buy a card with some minutes and texts, and fill the phone. Then, when the phone runs out of minutes and texts, they buy another card to fill it with more calling and messaging. Whenever they’re finished using the phone – whether they dislike talking with individuals who have their burner phone number, no longer need the number, or something else – they can discard it at any electronics disposal center.

Apps that Mimic Throwaway Phone Features

Apps are a bit more advanced and convenient. A throwaway phone app works similar to a physical throwaway phone but eliminates the hassle of keeping track of two phones and refillable minutes cards. With a throwaway phone app (such as Hushed), you simply download the app, pick a phone number to give the app, and pay monthly for a set number of minutes and texts. You can text and call from within your app, and the recipient will see your messages as if they came from a unique phone. Burner apps also allow you to wipe an old phone number – simulating discarding a phone – and start fresh with a new number if things go wrong with someone in your life.

Setting up a burner phone: How does it work?

Burner phones and throwaway phones may sound complex, but they’re simple to set up and use. Within minutes you can be well on your way to having a private phone set up for whatever your needs.

If you’re interested in a physical phone, go to the nearest Walmart, Target, or phone store and ask for a prepaid phone. Prepaid phones aren’t contract-based, so you can discard the phone at any time without dealing with contract fees. Once you’ve selected a contract phone, the salesperson will help you with your new phone number. They’ll also show you how to add your first minutes and texts to the phone.

When you have this phone, give its number to anyone who you don’t completely trust. If you decide to discard the phone, don’t throw it in your regular garbage: it could be stolen and hacked for your information. Instead, discard it at a local electronics store with a dedicated electronics disposal system.

For a throwaway phone app such as Hushed, you simply go to the App store or Google Play, search for your desired app (such as Hushed), and download it. Once it’s on your phone, open the app, and sign up with your email and the number you’d like to have as your “burner number.” Every time you receive a call or a text, the app will notify you – after which you can then respond through the app so that recipients never find out your personal number. When you’re ready to discard your number, go into the app’s settings to choose a fresh phone number. And you’re done!

Setting up a burner phone is simple. Nevertheless, there are a few specific dos and don’ts for using burner phones and apps, such as:

Do:

Only give your personal number to individuals you trust

Keep your phone filled with texts and minutes, so that you don’t lose touch with people

Tell your friends and family that you don’t give your phone number to everyone, and ask them to not give out your number without your permission

Don’t:

Discard a physical phone just anywhere

Tell your dates/contacts that you have two phones: they may try to manipulate you into giving away your personal number

Overpay for minutes and texts. Remember, you don’t trust these people; they’re likely not worth $20+/month in cell phone charges.

Reasons to use a throwaway phone

Some of you may be wondering why throwaway phones are even necessary. How much damage can really be done with a phone number?

Giving out your phone number is extremely dangerous.

Through a reverse phone number search on your mobile number, criminals can find out your current address, previous addresses, relatives’ names, and addresses – they can then use this personal information to find your date of birth, social security number, banking information, and more.

In addition, by knowing your cell phone number, criminals can hack into your phone and your text messages, impersonate you online and to financial institutions, and more.

Even if your only concern is giving your phone number to Tinder dates, if your date goes wrong, your date may cause emotional havoc on your life. Some individuals become aggressive when rejected or ignored, and respond with repeated texts, hurtful words, unwanted pictures, and obsessive phone calls. They may even give your phone number to friends, post it online, or do other inappropriate things with it. Separating yourself from unwanted contact is difficult if your harasser has your main phone number. With a burner number, you can discard your phone as soon as you start to notice problems in a relationship, and start fresh.

Your phone number is a personally-identifiable piece of information. It’s the gateway to other personal information, as well as an open door into your life and communication. Don’t just give your phone number away to anyone. Be careful with who you share your number with, and use a burner number with anyone questionable.

Other Uses for Throwaway Phones

Some people use burner phones for questionable individuals and Tinder dates. Others, however, use them for everyday tasks.

Here are a few other popular uses of burner phones:

Sign up for all texted coupons and newsletters to go to your burner phone, then check it whenever you want to go shopping and get a good deal. Goodbye, text spam!

Use the number for contacting vendors and volunteers while organizing an event. This way, you can even put the phone number on a handout for all parties involved in the event’s planning without worrying about your personal security.

Create a business or professional phone. If you’d like to list your phone number on LinkedIn, Facebook, business cards, or your personal website, you can use a burner number to provide contact information without linking that information to your personal address, relatives’ information, or Social Security number.

Pros and Cons of Throwaway Phones

While there are plenty of benefits to having a throwaway phone, there are a few cons. We’ve listed the pros and cons of burner phones below, so you can compare:

Pros:

Increased privacy: no one can reverse-search your phone to find out where you live or who your relatives are

Increased security: don’t worry about identity theft

Better control: Discard a phone number once a toxic individual starts texting you

Cons:

With a physical phone, you have to worry about keeping track of the phone itself: keeping it charged, keeping it loaded with minutes and texts, going to the store for more minutes as it runs out, knowing where it is at all times

A physical phone must be disposed of properly

In our opinion, the pros of a throwaway phone far outweigh the cons. Additionally, none of the cons apply to burner apps. A throwaway phone app doesn’t need to be charged separately or kept safe. When a burner app runs out of texts, you simply pay for more through your phone. It’s a convenient, quick way to set up a throwaway phone with very little risk.

Safety, privacy, and throwaway phones

Phone numbers shouldn’t be given to strangers.

So why is it safe to give a burner number to strangers, but not a personal number?

A throwaway phone number isn’t linked to your personal information. If you buy a phone on contract or buy a phone that requires your personal information for registration, you can’t call it a “burner phone” or “throwaway phone.” By registering your address with a cell provider, you link your personal information to the cell phone’s number.

If you buy a flip phone or another simple prepaid phone, you won’t be asked for any personal information (beyond payment information). A prepaid number can’t be searched in a reverse-phone-number search: there is no information linked with the phone number. That’s why it’s safe to give a burner phone number away, but not a personal number.

While a toxic person could harass you through a burner phone, it’s easy to throw the phone away in this situation. Simply ignoring the texts could increase your stress. By throwing the phone away and purchasing a new phone, you cut off communication completely and start fresh.

How to set up a “throwaway phone” on your mobile phone

If you’re interested in setting up a throwaway phone app, here’s how to get started.

1. Decide on your app

Various companies offer throwaway phone features. The capabilities you need will depend on your phone plan, your wifi and cell coverage, and the situations in which you plan to use the burner phone.

For example, if you plan to use your phone for dates, you’ll want the following features:

Multiple lines: Give a different phone number to each date. This way, if something goes wrong with one date, you can wipe their number – but keep others’ numbers.

Burn number: If you can’t discard your phone number, there’s no point in signing up for a “throwaway phone” app for your dating life.

Dedicated texting and calling: You’ll want your date-related texts and calls separated from your personal texts and calls. If your date starts to act a bit “off,” but you aren’t ready to wipe their number yet, you can turn off notifications for their texts. Taking a step back from reading texts can help you return to the conversation with a clearer head.

If you want to use your phone for Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace sales, look for these features:

VoIP calling: If you’re meeting someone at a place outside your home, you may not have good reception at your meeting place. However, if you meet at a business, you’ll likely have access to wifi. With VoIP calling, you can guarantee contact with your buyer or seller even if you have no cell service at your meetup location.

Dedicated voicemail: If your seller or buyer calls while you’re driving or otherwise occupied, a voicemail will allow them to leave you a quick note. They may not be able to text when they call (if they’re also driving at the time; for example, if they’re calling to say they’re stuck in traffic) so having a voicemail option is helpful.

Automated texts: If you’re stuck in traffic, and your contact texts you to find out where you are, you won’t be able to respond. However, if your app offers automated texting, your phone can respond to their texts with “Thanks for reaching out! I’m driving right now, but I’ll check my messages when I reach my destination.”

If you’re thinking of using your burner number as a secure phone number for business and professional work, you’ll want to look for features like these:

Custom voicemail: A custom voicemail is more than simply a dedicated voicemail. A dedicated voicemail is a separate voicemail account from your personal account. A custom voicemail allows you to record a greeting with hours, location, and other answers to frequently asked questions.

Automated texts with specific prompts: During the holidays, you’ll need a way to communicate your holiday hours and sales to clients. Wouldn’t it be helpful if your customers could text your business phone with the word “hours” for your holiday hours, or “sales” for the sales from that day? Some throwaway phone apps, such as Hushed, offer auto-replies to specific text messages like these.

Privacy: When you’re working with others’ personal information (especially if you work in the medical, financial, or legal industry) it’s important to safeguard your communication. Some apps don’t require password protection or allow sharing of numbers between people. With Hushed, you receive a dedicated phone number unique to you. No one else can log into your Hushed number while you’re logged in, and the app is password-protected for further security.

Before setting up your app, decide which features are most important, and select an app that meets those needs.

If you liked all the above features, try Hushed. Hushed provides all these and more in a reliable, password-protected format. You won’t need to worry about security or privacy, you’ll have the freedom to open multiple numbers, and you can keep or burn as many as you like anytime you want.

Go to the App Store or Google Play while connected to wifi, search for your desired app, and download it. Then, move it to a place where you’ll find it quickly and easily (we recommend placing it in your shortcuts bar, or next to your phone-dialing app).

2. Set up your new number

Next, the app will ask for some information for signup. Most apps won’t ask for extensive information: the purpose of a burner number is to keep personal information out of the hands of people with your phone number. When signing up for Hushed, you aren’t asked for extensive personal information.

You’ll be prompted to choose a new phone number. If you’re selecting a number for business, pick something distinctive: use a pattern of memorable numbers, or insert a catchy phrase. If you’re planning to burn your number, you don’t need to create a custom number (but you’re welcome to, if you want).

Finally, you’ll start your free trial. Most throwaway phone services charge per month, with a set number of provided texts and minutes each month. This eliminates the hassle of re-purchasing minutes and texts every time your phone runs out. You may be asked for payment information at the beginning of the signup process, or you may be asked after your trial is over, depending on the app you downloaded.

3. Enjoy sharing your number worry-free

That’s it! Your number is set up. If you’d like, you can go a step further to set up auto-replies, voicemail greetings, and more. These settings change from app to app, so we won’t cover their setup steps here.

4. Notify friends and family

If you’re no longer freely sharing your phone number, don’t forget to let your friends and family know. Tell them that you’d like them to ask before giving your phone number to someone, and remove your personal number from any directories or websites where you’re listed. This will keep your information private and safe.

Final Thoughts

Now that you’re equipped with a burner phone, you’ll be able to communicate with strangers and first dates without concern for your privacy. You’ll be able to cut off communication with toxic people and funnel newsletters and coupons to a separate texting inbox for convenient searches.

If you’ve decided to start using a throwaway phone or throwaway phone number, congratulations: you’ve taken control of your personal information. You’ve started protecting yourself, your family, your finances, and more. You’re a step ahead of many people who still don’t know the danger of sharing phone numbers. Whether you’ve purchased a physical phone or downloaded an app like Hushed, tell a friend about the dangers of sharing their phone number this week. You just might save someone from identity theft.

The post Throwaway Phones, What’s the story? appeared first on Hushed.

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brandonxnellis · 7 years ago

Text

Throwaway Phones, What’s the story?

Keep reading to learn more about throwaway phones and throwaway phone apps, determine which is better for you, and find out how to get started:

What is a throwaway phone?

As outlined above, there are two types of throwaway phones:

Physical phones

Apps that mimic throwaway phone features

Physical Throwaway Phones

Apps that Mimic Throwaway Phone Features

Setting up a burner phone: How does it work?

Burner phones and throwaway phones may sound complex, but they’re simple to set up and use. Within minutes you can be well on your way to having a private phone set up for whatever your needs.

Setting up a burner phone is simple. Nevertheless, there are a few specific dos and don’ts for using burner phones and apps, such as:

Do:

Only give your personal number to individuals you trust

Keep your phone filled with texts and minutes, so that you don’t lose touch with people

Tell your friends and family that you don’t give your phone number to everyone, and ask them to not give out your number without your permission

Don’t:

Discard a physical phone just anywhere

Tell your dates/contacts that you have two phones: they may try to manipulate you into giving away your personal number

Overpay for minutes and texts. Remember, you don’t trust these people; they’re likely not worth $20+/month in cell phone charges.

Reasons to use a throwaway phone

Some of you may be wondering why throwaway phones are even necessary. How much damage can really be done with a phone number?

Giving out your phone number is extremely dangerous.

In addition, by knowing your cell phone number, criminals can hack into your phone and your text messages, impersonate you online and to financial institutions, and more.

Other Uses for Throwaway Phones

Some people use burner phones for questionable individuals and Tinder dates. Others, however, use them for everyday tasks.

Here are a few other popular uses of burner phones:

Sign up for all texted coupons and newsletters to go to your burner phone, then check it whenever you want to go shopping and get a good deal. Goodbye, text spam!

Pros and Cons of Throwaway Phones

While there are plenty of benefits to having a throwaway phone, there are a few cons. We’ve listed the pros and cons of burner phones below, so you can compare:

Pros:

Increased privacy: no one can reverse-search your phone to find out where you live or who your relatives are

Increased security: don’t worry about identity theft

Better control: Discard a phone number once a toxic individual starts texting you

Cons:

A physical phone must be disposed of properly

Safety, privacy, and throwaway phones

Phone numbers shouldn’t be given to strangers.

So why is it safe to give a burner number to strangers, but not a personal number?

How to set up a “throwaway phone” on your mobile phone

If you’re interested in setting up a throwaway phone app, here’s how to get started.

1. Decide on your app

Various companies offer throwaway phone features. The capabilities you need will depend on your phone plan, your wifi and cell coverage, and the situations in which you plan to use the burner phone.

For example, if you plan to use your phone for dates, you’ll want the following features:

Multiple lines: Give a different phone number to each date. This way, if something goes wrong with one date, you can wipe their number – but keep others’ numbers.

Burn number: If you can’t discard your phone number, there’s no point in signing up for a “throwaway phone” app for your dating life.

If you want to use your phone for Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace sales, look for these features:

If you’re thinking of using your burner number as a secure phone number for business and professional work, you’ll want to look for features like these:

Before setting up your app, decide which features are most important, and select an app that meets those needs.

2. Set up your new number

3. Enjoy sharing your number worry-free

4. Notify friends and family

Final Thoughts

The post Throwaway Phones, What’s the story? appeared first on Hushed.

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brandonxnellis · 7 years ago

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Straight Talk Wireless Review

Committing to a phone plan can be one of the most nerve-wracking decisions of adulthood.

Will you be able to swing $60/month for the next two years? Are you sure you only want 10GB of data each month?

What if you can’t pay your bill? Will this company really provide coverage in the area you live and travel for the next couple of years?

Committing to a cell phone contract is frustrating because over the course of two years your life and needs can drastically change. In two years, you could lose your job – or you could get promoted. In two years, you might be living on the other side of the country. Or you might be living abroad. Who knows?

Straight Talk provides cell phones for individuals who want flexibility

With Straight Talk, you can have a popular, in-demand phone model with no service contract attached. Have $45/month for your phone bill? No problem. Need to drop to $35/month – or take a break – during a tight month? That’s fine. Get a promotion and want a new phone (and pricier plan)? Go for it! Straight Talk doesn’t lock you into a contract, so you’re free to alter your phone bill with your lifestyle.

Getting to Know Straight Talk Wireless

What is Straight Talk?

Straight Talk is a mobile phone provider offering contract-free plans.

Straight Talk customers select whichever plan is most appropriate for their needs and budget in the current month and can change plans or leave the service at any time with no penalty. Straight Talk sells high-demand phones like the iPhone and offers up to unlimited domestic talk, text, and data so that customers can live their lives to the fullest without feeling trapped in a contract.

About the Straight Talk company

Straight Talk started four years ago. The founders of Straight Talk noticed that very few providers offered no-contract cell phone plans and opened a company to provide these plans to customers in an effort to fill this void in the market.

Today, Straight Talk still provides some of the top no-contract phones and plans, starting at $35/month for data, talk, and text. Straight Talk is the provider for users who want options. Pay for a $35/month plan this month, increase your data the following month, drop down to a cheaper plan the following month, take a month off, come back the next month: as a Straight Talk user, your payments are up to you.

A few guiding principles continue to shape Straight Talk as it moves forward, including:

Simple plans, strong relationships

Who keeps track of their minutes or text messages? Nobody. And who wants to tell their best friend, “I’m sorry, I know this is an important conversation, but I’m about to run out of text messages, so I’m going to cut you off there.” Nobody!

With Straight Talk, every plan has unlimited domestic talk and text. The company believes that connectivity shouldn’t suffer just because you need flexibility in your phone plan. The only factor that varies between plans is data. These straightforward plans keep payments simple – and allow greater freedom for keeping in touch with friends, family, and business contacts.

In-demand phones

In the past, no-contract phones were unattractive flip phones with poor cameras and very little storage space. Straight Talk transformed the market by permitting users to purchase in-demand phones or bring their own phones, including iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and more.

Continuity: Keep living your life

One feature Straight Talk prioritizes: “Keep your phone, keep your number.” This means that you won’t have to contact all your friends, family, contacts, clients, babysitters, pet sitters, credit cards, and other parties with a new phone number.

If you want a new number, but not a new phone You can keep your, Straight Talk phone, and simply install an app (like Hushed) that allows for a second phone number. You can notify all your contacts of your phone number change, but if you forget somebody, their messages and calls will still connect to your phone (because you’ll have your old phone number, too).

Features of StraightTalk Wireless

Straight Talk’s founders built their company to cater to independent individuals, who need flexible options to fit their ever-changing lives. Here are a few standout features you’ll find with Straight Talk that you can’t find anywhere else:

Broad Coverage

Do you travel frequently?

Do you like to explore new places, camp in the wilderness, or take road trips through states you’ve never seen before?

Or do you travel for work – flying from city to city, driving from client to client for meetings and sales calls?

Do you know if your current provider will support service in every location you travel?

While some might worry about finding a provider that offers coverage in their area, Straight Talk shares networks with four of the major United States providers. This means Straight Talk users can call from any area that Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint users can.

There’s nothing worse than losing touch with a client or a friend while you’re traveling, simply because your cell phone doesn’t have coverage. Straight Talk eliminates worries of lost connectivity, and its customers enjoy the freedom to live their life to the fullest.

Security in keeping your old number

Keeping your old number is more than a convenience issue: it’s a security feature.

What happens if your doctor accidentally calls your old number to share your blood test results? How about your bank – what if they don’t change your phone number, and call you with important banking information?

There are significant security threats to giving up your old number. When you forfeit a phone number, it’s transferred to someone else. That person will likely receive texts and phone calls from individuals associated with you for a few months; these calls generally contain some personally-identifying information. When individuals give up their phone number, they become vulnerable to identity theft.

If you need a new phone number (you’re ditching an ex or you want something with a local area code, for example) you can download Hushed onto any smartphone on the Straight Talk network. Hushed will allow you to pick your own phone number, take calls and texts, and provide a dedicated custom voicemail for all your calls. You won’t need to give up your old phone number or phone, but you’ll have a fresh line for a fresh start.

Flexible plans

If you’re in business for yourself, your income may vary from month to month. Even if you’re not self-employed, you may feel hesitant to commit to a 2-year plan.

What if you don’t need as much data next month as you needed this month?

What if something happens at your job?

What if you want more data over Christmas, to skype with family?

Straight Talk’s monthly plans are contract-free. That means you can sign up with a 2GB/month plan this month, change to unlimited data next month, then go down to 10GB/month after that for a few months – and so on. Your plan changes with your usage needs, and you’re never locked into one option.

Auto-refill

Just because it’s contract-free doesn’t mean it’s a hassle to refill. Straight Talk offers auto-refill: every month, your card will be charged for the amount of your plan (unless you specify otherwise). You won’t need to log into a website each month, go to a store for a refill card, or enter your credit card number into an online payment portal on a regular basis. Set up automatic refill once, and your phone will be full until you turn it off.

Getting started with Straight Talk Wireless

Ready to start with Straight Talk? There are a few ways to sign up.

Keep reading to find out the best method for you:

1. Decide: New Phone or Old Phone?

If you’re ready to start with Straight Talk, you’ll have to consider whether you want to keep your current phone or start with a new phone.

Keeping your old phone is best if:

You’d rather not reinstall all your apps

You don’t want to learn to use a new phone

You plan on keeping your old phone number

You’d like to keep your old phone number active, even if you aren’t using it as your primary contact number

Your phone is in good working condition

Getting a new phone might be better if:

Your old phone is starting to slow down

Your old phone’s battery life is short

There are features on a newer phone that would be useful to you, such as a higher-quality camera

Your old phone has a cracked screen or is otherwise structurally compromised

Don’t ask yourself whether or not you want to keep your old number. If you need a new number, you can get one through an app (such as Hushed) without changing your phone. Look at whether you like your phone itself when deciding whether or not to keep it.

2. Get ready for service

If you’re interested in keeping your phone, the next step is to look at Straight Talk’s list of compatible phones to determine whether or not your phone is compatible with Straight Talk (most are, but check to be sure).

If you’re looking at purchasing a new phone, you have two options:

Purchase a new phone from Straight Talk

Purchase an unlocked Straight Talk-compatible phone (not from Straight Talk)

Straight Talk offers a range of high-quality in-demand smartphones, including the iPhone and Galaxy Note. There are also less-expensive and free-with-a-plan options, such as the LG Rebel. If you don’t want the hassle of determining whether or not your phone will work with Straight Talk or looking for an unlocked phone, purchasing a model directly from Straight Talk is your best option.

Buying an unlocked smartphone, while more of a hassle, can result in a better phone at a lower price: unlocked iPhones are about half the price of new iPhones. However, unlocked phones are sometimes pre-owned (may be a bit beat-up), can be dangerous (you don’t know if malicious software was installed on the phone), and aren’t guaranteed to work with Straight Talk’s services. If you choose to buy an unlocked phone, select your model carefully.

When purchasing a new phone, don’t forget to look into these important factors:

Battery life. Low battery life is easy to overlook when shopping, but difficult to live with long-term. Look at online reviews to find out how a phone’s battery holds up over time, and whether or not it’s replaceable when it no longer holds a charge.

Camera quality: both front and back. Most of us use our phones as our primary camera. If you plan to print pictures taken with your phone – for photo frames, albums, Christmas cards, etc. – check the camera resolution and reviews.Look at both the front-facing and back-facing cameras. Unfortunately, many phones have one good camera and one bad camera. The front camera could be incredible, while the back camera may provide only pixelated blurs for pictures.Consider whether you take more selfies or traditional photos, and find a camera that meets your needs.

Space. Space is necessary for photos, but photos can be backed up. What can’t be backed up: apps. It’s easy to forget that apps take up space, too. Do you rely on any banking, email, messaging, social media, streaming music, audiobook, or organization apps? Each of these takes up space.To find out how much space you’ll need, look at your current phone’s storage information. It should tell you about how much is occupied by installed apps. Each app uses some extra space while it’s running, too.So, if your phone says apps take up 10GB, look for something with at least 15-20 GB to fully support your apps while running, a few photos (before they’re backed up), texts (because those also take up space, believe it or not), and phone operating system (easy to forget, but it takes up a few GB too).

3. Select a Straight Talk plan

Next, go to the Straight Talk website or your local Walmart to find a plan that works for you. All plans include unlimited domestic texting and calling – you just need to pick the plan that will provide the amount of data you need.

If you’re not sure how much data you use, Straight Talk provides a helpful guide to data usage to help you decide.

Did you purchase an unlocked phone, or bring your own phone? Don’t forget to purchase an activation plan. This will include a SIM card that allows you to switch your phone to the Straight Talk network.

Activate your plan (and your phone)

Finally, activate your plan. You can ask someone at Walmart to help you activate your plan, or you can go home and do it yourself online. Your service will start immediately – so enjoy your new contract-free service with some celebratory texts and phone calls!

Using Straight Talk

Once you have your Straight Talk phone, taking advantage of its features is easy.

Here’s how to use a few of Straight Talk’s top features:

Auto refill

To refill your plan, you’ll either need to purchase a refill card or sign up for automatic refill.

Purchasing a refill card is simple: order one online or pick one up at Walmart, then register the card online the same way you registered your first plan.

To sign up for auto-refill, simply go to StraightTalk.com and log into your account. Click on “Payments,” then follow the instructions to register a credit or debit card for auto-refill payments. You’ll receive a warning text before your account is charged each month, in case you change your mind about auto refilling your current plan.

Changing your plan

To change the amount you’re paying or your data allowance for the month, you have two options:

Buy a new plan at Walmart or online

Change your auto-refill settings

If you’re not signed up for auto-refill, simply purchase a different monthly plan the next time your phone runs empty. That’s it!

If you’re signed up for automatic refills, you’ll need to log into your account, then click on “Payments.” Your plan amount and auto-refill settings will show up. You’ll be able to select a new plan from here – if you’d only like to keep your new plan for a month or two, you may want to turn off auto-refill to avoid accidental charges (for example, forgetting to switch plans at the end of the month and getting charged again).

Using the Apps

Because Straight Talk offers smartphones, you can purchase an app-compatible phone and start using it to keep in touch, organize your life, and more.

To install apps to your smartphone, just go to the Google Play or Apple App store and search for the types of apps you’d like (“Calendar,” “Budget,” “Chase Banking,” etc). You can get yourself setup with Hushed. Real. Fast.

If you’d like to add a new phone number, with separate texting and calling, you can download the Hushed app from Google Play or the App store to get started. Hushed will allow you to keep your original phone number while adding a new number. You can use this new number for business contacts, first dates, or whatever else you’d like.

Voicemails, texts, and calls will be kept in a separate, secure log, so you don’t have to worry about getting them mixed up with your old number’s communication. Hushed provides you with a second phone number that is private, organized, and safe, allowing you to keep your old number while starting your life fresh.

Setting up voicemail

Voicemail is free on all Straight Talk phones.

To set up voicemail on Android phones:

On the main screen, tap the “phone” icon.

Then, at the bottom of the screen, tap the “voicemail” icon.

Your phone will call your voicemail, allowing you to set up your voicemail.

To set up voicemail on most other phones:

Navigate to your dialing screen

Dial *68, then press “Call”

After listening to the greeting, press #.

Follow voicemail prompts to set up your greeting and inbox.

Some Nokia models and prepaid models have different instructions. If your phone is not an Android and does not respond to calling *68, your phone likely requires a different prompt. Pressing and holding “1” until your phone calls voicemail will allow you to set up your voicemail on one of these models.

Specs

Coverage: 99% of the U.S. population

Retail sales: Walmart

Data: 4G LTE

Calling and texting: Domestic, with some international options

OS: Android, iOS, and other (for example, Nokia phones)

Contracts: None

Maximum data plan offered: Unlimited

Maximum calls offered: Unlimited

Maximum texts offered: Unlimited

Free phones available: Yes

Final Thoughts

Straight Talk provides phones for free spirits – those people who don’t want to be held back by a phone contract.

Take a month of unlimited talk, text, and data to keep in touch with everyone, then go off the grid for a month.

Or sign up for a low-cost cell phone plan, and increase it when you’re ready. With Straight Talk, you have options that mirror your life.

If you want a new number, but you’re not ready to give up your old number and phone, you can pair Straight Talk with the Hushed app for a fresh start. Straight Talk will let you keep your old phone and phone number, so all your friends, family, doctors, and others can contact you there. Hushed will provide you with a second, new number: use it for business, Tinder dates, or whatever else is useful to you.

With Straight Talk, you have the flexibility you need in a cell phone plan alongside the capabilities you need to install life-changing apps. If you’re looking for a new phone carrier, head to Walmart and ask about Straight Talk to learn more about whether it’s right for you!

The post Straight Talk Wireless Review appeared first on Hushed.

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brandonxnellis · 7 years ago

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Straight Talk Wireless Review

Committing to a phone plan can be one of the most nerve-wracking decisions of adulthood.

Will you be able to swing $60/month for the next two years? Are you sure you only want 10GB of data each month?

What if you can’t pay your bill? Will this company really provide coverage in the area you live and travel for the next couple of years?

Straight Talk provides cell phones for individuals who want flexibility

Getting to Know Straight Talk Wireless

What is Straight Talk?

Straight Talk is a mobile phone provider offering contract-free plans.

About the Straight Talk company

A few guiding principles continue to shape Straight Talk as it moves forward, including:

Simple plans, strong relationships

In-demand phones

Continuity: Keep living your life

Features of StraightTalk Wireless

Broad Coverage

Do you travel frequently?

Do you like to explore new places, camp in the wilderness, or take road trips through states you’ve never seen before?

Or do you travel for work – flying from city to city, driving from client to client for meetings and sales calls?

Do you know if your current provider will support service in every location you travel?

Security in keeping your old number

Keeping your old number is more than a convenience issue: it’s a security feature.

Flexible plans

If you’re in business for yourself, your income may vary from month to month. Even if you’re not self-employed, you may feel hesitant to commit to a 2-year plan.

What if you don’t need as much data next month as you needed this month?

What if something happens at your job?

What if you want more data over Christmas, to skype with family?

Auto-refill

Getting started with Straight Talk Wireless

Ready to start with Straight Talk? There are a few ways to sign up.

Keep reading to find out the best method for you:

1. Decide: New Phone or Old Phone?

If you’re ready to start with Straight Talk, you’ll have to consider whether you want to keep your current phone or start with a new phone.

Keeping your old phone is best if:

You’d rather not reinstall all your apps

You don’t want to learn to use a new phone

You plan on keeping your old phone number

You’d like to keep your old phone number active, even if you aren’t using it as your primary contact number

Your phone is in good working condition

Getting a new phone might be better if:

Your old phone is starting to slow down

Your old phone’s battery life is short

There are features on a newer phone that would be useful to you, such as a higher-quality camera

Your old phone has a cracked screen or is otherwise structurally compromised

2. Get ready for service

If you’re looking at purchasing a new phone, you have two options:

Purchase a new phone from Straight Talk

Purchase an unlocked Straight Talk-compatible phone (not from Straight Talk)

When purchasing a new phone, don’t forget to look into these important factors:

3. Select a Straight Talk plan

If you’re not sure how much data you use, Straight Talk provides a helpful guide to data usage to help you decide.

Activate your plan (and your phone)

Using Straight Talk

Once you have your Straight Talk phone, taking advantage of its features is easy.

Here’s how to use a few of Straight Talk’s top features:

Auto refill

To refill your plan, you’ll either need to purchase a refill card or sign up for automatic refill.

Purchasing a refill card is simple: order one online or pick one up at Walmart, then register the card online the same way you registered your first plan.

Changing your plan

To change the amount you’re paying or your data allowance for the month, you have two options:

Buy a new plan at Walmart or online

Change your auto-refill settings

If you’re not signed up for auto-refill, simply purchase a different monthly plan the next time your phone runs empty. That’s it!

Using the Apps

Because Straight Talk offers smartphones, you can purchase an app-compatible phone and start using it to keep in touch, organize your life, and more.

Setting up voicemail

Voicemail is free on all Straight Talk phones.

To set up voicemail on Android phones:

On the main screen, tap the “phone” icon.

Then, at the bottom of the screen, tap the “voicemail” icon.

Your phone will call your voicemail, allowing you to set up your voicemail.

To set up voicemail on most other phones:

Navigate to your dialing screen

Dial *68, then press “Call”

After listening to the greeting, press #.

Follow voicemail prompts to set up your greeting and inbox.

Specs

Coverage: 99% of the U.S. population

Retail sales: Walmart

Data: 4G LTE

Calling and texting: Domestic, with some international options

OS: Android, iOS, and other (for example, Nokia phones)

Contracts: None

Maximum data plan offered: Unlimited

Maximum calls offered: Unlimited

Maximum texts offered: Unlimited

Free phones available: Yes

Final Thoughts

Straight Talk provides phones for free spirits – those people who don’t want to be held back by a phone contract.

Take a month of unlimited talk, text, and data to keep in touch with everyone, then go off the grid for a month.

Or sign up for a low-cost cell phone plan, and increase it when you’re ready. With Straight Talk, you have options that mirror your life.

The post Straight Talk Wireless Review appeared first on Hushed.

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brandonxnellis · 7 years ago

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Automatic Reply Text Message – What’s the story?

Automatic Replies: Enjoy Your Life – Let Your iPhone Do all the Work

Ding! Ding!

You’re driving. Your significant other wants to know why you’re not responding to their texts. They want to know if you’re still mad about that argument from this morning. Are you ignoring them?

They don’t realize you’re stuck in stop-and-go traffic.

You don’t want to risk texting them, but you don’t want to ignore them either.

What do you do?

With auto-respond texting, you can ask your phone to instantly reply “I’m driving now – I’ll respond to you later!” or “I’m on the highway headed home right now, but I’ll see your text when I’m home” when you leave your office.

No more confusion and hurt feelings.

Maybe you avoid opening texts during important meetings. Automatic reply allows you to create a response like, “I’m at work, and I’ll see your text when I get off at 5; if this is an emergency, call me.” You’ll have peace of mind knowing none of your texts contain urgent messages, and your friends will appreciate the heads-up.

Interested in learning more about auto messaging and how it can benefit you?

Keep reading to find out how auto reply works, the five types of people who need autoresponders, and where to download an auto-response messaging app…

What is auto messaging?

The two types

“Automatic reply” or “auto messaging” can refer to:

A standard automatic response sent from your phone to any text received (similar to an email vacation autoresponder)

An automatic response sent from your phone is sent when a specific type of text is received. For example, if you have a business, your customers could send the word “hours” to your phone to get a text back with your hours for that day.

For the first type of message, your phone will send one reply text for every text received. The second type will only trigger if the exact phrase is used: for example, “What are your hours?” isn’t the same as just “hours.”

Pros and cons

Unsurprisingly, there are benefits and difficulties with each messaging type.

Standard responses

With a generalized autoresponder, you won’t miss a message. You’ll be able to communicate with everyone interested in contacting you.

However, if a friend tries repeatedly to get in touch, your phone will message one response for each text they send.

In some cases, sending this many texts can become expensive. Some auto-responders use your text plan to send their messages. If you have limited messaging, an auto response could eat through your month’s allotment of texts.

Even if you use unlimited messaging, if international friends text your phone, your auto-responses could add steep charges to your phone bill – simply because of long-distance charges.

However, if you use a wifi-based or wifi-capable autoresponder (such as Hushed.com), you won’t need to worry about your autoresponder racking up phone charges. These services generally offer low-rate international texting and auto responses. Your automatic text could go out 1,000 times, and you won’t see a difference in your phone bill.

Specific responses

A response sent to a specific text can be an invaluable tool – or a frustrating one.

When your specific prompt is typed correctly (“hours,” for example) your friends, customers, and contacts can obtain important information without interrupting your day. If the prompt is typed incorrectly, however, your auto response won’t trigger – and you’ll be left to answer every question manually.

It’s not generally difficult to explain a specific responder: “Text just the word ‘hours’ to this number for our hours,” but some people will still need help.

If you want to set up an auto-reply for a frequently-asked question, try setting the autoresponder up on an assistant’s phone rather than your own. Your assistant can answer questions from individuals who type the prompt incorrectly, and your time will be freed up for other tasks.

Who can benefit from auto messaging?

Nearly everyone could save time and decrease confusion with autoresponders. Still, some will appreciate automatic messaging more than others.

The five types of individuals who would especially benefit from auto messaging include:

Business owners

Event planners

Vacationing couples and families

Busy professionals

Individuals with an unpredictable work schedule

We’ve broken down the “why” of each of these below.

Business owners

If you own a store, you may spend a significant amount of time answering a few common customer questions such as:

“What are your hours?”

“Are you open over the holidays?”

“What are your Christmas Eve hours?”

“How long does this sale last?”

“What’s on sale right now?”

Don’t individually respond to each question; set up an autoresponder. With an autoresponder, your customers can receive instant, current information on hours and other questions.

For example, you might encourage customers to text “sale” to your business line on a semi-regular basis to check what’s on sale. Around Christmas, you can change the “hours” autoresponder to read “Our hours have changed this week. 12/23 we are open 8am-12pm. 12/24 and 12/25 we will be closed.”

If you rent out vacation property, an automatic responder can be a valuable tool for guests. You could set up a response for “food” that lists recommended nearby restaurants. A “things to do” text could receive a response with top attractions in the area. If your wifi password is complex, just tell guests to text “wifi” to your phone number for an auto-response of the password.

Event planners

Whether you’re a corporate event planner, fundraising coordinator, or wedding planner, an autoresponder can significantly simplify your life.

Planning an event requires coordinating dozens (if not hundreds) of individuals. As the planner, you’re the go-to for questions on the day of the event. Here are a few ideas for auto-responses that could lighten your workload:

“Agenda”: respond with the day’s agenda

“Wifi”: respond with the venue’s wifi information

“Question”: respond with the phone numbers of two individuals who can answer vendor, photographer, caterer, and guest questions (instead of you)

“Start time”: respond with the event’s start time

“Doors”: respond with the time the venue doors open

“Numbers”: respond with the full list of phone numbers for caterers, vendors, photographers, videographers, venue contacts, etc., for anyone associated with the event needing to contact another party in the event

“Maid of honor,” “groom mom,” etc: respond with relevant phone number. This way, even those in the wedding party (who don’t technically know each other well) can get in touch with each other – without chasing you down asking, “Have you seen so-and-so?”

“Ceremony directions,” “reception directions,” or simply “directions”: respond with directions from a major landmark, for both guests and vendors

Vacationing couples and families

What’s the one thing you don’t want to hear on vacation?

Ocean waves?

Island music?

Phone ring?

Rather than respond to each question and text individually, set a catch-all response when you go on vacation: “I’m on vacation right now, but if this is an emergency, you can call Linda: 231-541…” Then, turn off your text notifications and enjoy your retreat in paradise.

Busy professionals

If you have a demanding work schedule, an autoresponder could simplify your life.

For example: rather than keeping your grocery list in a note on your phone, type it into an auto-response text. Set this response to trigger whenever someone texts “groceries” to your phone. Then, if your spouse has a few extra minutes to pick up groceries, they won’t need to wait for you to send the list – just texting “groceries” sends them the most current list instantly.

If you have young children, you may struggle to coordinate mealtimes and rules between your home, your nanny, and your parents. However, with an autoresponder, you could send your household rules to anyone who texts “rules” to your phone. Some things you might include in this text: bedtime, electronics limits, mealtimes, and favorite afternoon snacks.

Finally, if you struggle with friends who text you all day, you can send a generalized auto-response to all texts. Something like “I’m at work, but I’ll get back to you after 6 pm tonight!” should communicate the appropriate message.

Individuals with unpredictable work schedules

For some careers, work schedules change from day to day. If your spouse, friends, or family frequently call or text you at work, consider setting up an autoresponder. You won’t feel guilty for ignoring their texts – and they won’t wonder why you haven’t responded yet.

Type up a general message, such as “I’m working now, but I’ll get back to you when I’m off!” Then, turn the message on when you start work and turn it off when you finish. If someone texts you during that window, they’ll receive the message. This is especially helpful for those with unpredictable work schedules because others may not be aware of your late hours, weekend hours, or otherwise unconventional schedule.

How does automatic messaging work?

The easiest way to set up automatic messaging is to download an auto response app. Some automatic texting apps are free, while others charge a small fee.

Be careful: in this case, the cliche “you get what you pay for” applies. Free apps don’t offer the same advanced, reliable features as paid apps.

Some apps allow you to set a unique phone number for automated texts – with these, you could set up a business phone number separate from your personal number. Others use your current phone number for sending and receiving messages.

Then, you’re able to set up each message individually: general responses, specific texts, and more.

Many phones are capable of sending auto-responses without downloading an extra app. However, if you use your phone’s built-in autoresponder, you may experience problems. Your phone depends on network coverage to send and receive texts; if you leave your service area, your auto responses won’t send. This isn’t only a rural problem – even elevators and basements can interfere with cell signal.

With a wifi-enabled app, your texts will send even if you’re outside network coverage. Some wifi-based apps, such as Hushed, will switch between network and wifi usage based on whichever is stronger. Because it can use both wifi and network for sending texts, Hushed is one of the most reliable auto reply apps available.

Additionally, some individuals need a separate line for their auto responses – for example, if you don’t want your vacation-rental guests to know your cell phone number. Many apps require the use of your current phone number for auto-responses; however, a handful of apps allow you to set a new number for responses. Hushed allows users to pick their own phone number. Hushed also sends and receives traditional texts (non-automated). Enabling both auto and manual texting allows business owners to use their Hushed number as their primary contact, rather than a “quick response” number.

Auto responses can be switched on and off. To stop sending an auto response, just turn it off. You won’t need to delete it and retype later. If you have an auto response that says, “I’m driving, but I’ll get your message when I arrive safely at my destination,” you can quickly and easily trigger it on and off before and after your commute.

Autoresponders can provide customers with instant answers, communicate care to friends during busy times, and serve as a valuable tool for event planners and other professionals.

Setting up automatic messaging on your phone

Ready to get started with automatic messaging? Whether you’re looking at a dedicated business line or simple vacation message, here’s how to set up automatic messaging on your smartphone.

1. Download an app

Go to Google Play or the App store to download an auto-response app. We’re partial to Hushed: with a dedicated phone number, wifi/network usage, international texting, and a low flat fee, it’s the most reliable and straightforward option. It also has privacy features unmatched by others: for example, only one device can log into your Hushed account at a time, so no one will hack your account while you use it.

Connect to wifi and download the app. When it’s finished installing, drag it to a screen or folder where you’ll find it easily.

2. Register for the app

Most apps require a signup to continue to setup. This allows you to store auto response and text information outside of your phone. If your phone breaks, is misplaced, or loses battery power, your login will provide access to texts and responses on another smart device (like a friend’s phone).

Need multiple numbers? If you’ve downloaded Hushed, simply create multiple accounts. There are no limits on the number of phone numbers you can sign up for with Hushed, as long as each has its own dedicated account.

Because Hushed also supports phone calls, you can use your Hushed number for any of your personal or business needs: quick calls home, standard store phone number, automatic responses, voicemail, and more.

3. Open your auto responses

Open up the settings for your texting. These may be in your account settings, or they may be their own category. For Hushed, you’ll find auto response settings under “Number Settings.”

Then, select the autoresponder feature. With Hushed, this brings up a screen with a red + in the right-hand corner. Tap the + to add an auto response.

If you already have some auto responses set up, you can turn them on and off from here as well.

4. Compose your response

When writing a generalized auto response, be sure to specify when you’ll see and respond to their text. This can help friends and family with time-sensitive questions judge whether or not to wait for your response. Not sure when you’ll respond? Simply say “I’ll get to your message soon; call me if this is time-sensitive.” Again, because Hushed supports voice calling, texters can call if they need immediate answers.

If you’re writing a specific auto response, try incorporating some personality into your text. It can be easy to forget to communicate friendliness into an automated text – but it’s often appreciated by recipients. Your customers and contacts will feel valued with a few extra smiley faces and a short “Thanks for reaching out!”

With Hushed, triggers for specific responses aren’t case-sensitive. However, they have to be typed letter-for-letter the way you’ve entered them. Consider a short word or phrase as opposed to a longer phrase. “Hours” is better than “What are your hours,” and “Maid of Honor” or “MoH” is better than “Tina Esposito’s phone number.”

5. Turn on the response

Once you’ve finished creating your automatic reply, turn it on to start messaging people and simplifying your life!

Final thoughts

Automatic texting can provide instant answers to common questions, inform friends and family their texts aren’t being ignored, and provide a central source of information. If your life is busy, setting up automatic replies will simplify it. If you run a business, auto-replies will connect with your customers 24/7. If you need to share information (like an agenda, or important contact numbers) with a large group, auto-replies won’t get lost the way brochures, business cards, or old email threads might.

If you’re interested in starting with automatic texting, Hushed is a reliable, private, trusted app for talking and texting. You’ll receive your own private phone number, with secure voicemail and texting capabilities. You can give this number to customers, blind dates, business contacts, and more without compromising your personal information – if it helps you to organize your life better, you can open a separate Hushed account for each type of contact (business, personal, etc).

With Hushed’s auto responses, you won’t need to worry about ignored texts while driving or working. You won’t panic if a text sits without an answer, and your customers won’t wonder about your wifi passwords or store hours for hours until you see their message. Simply switch on your responder, turn off your phone, and enjoy your life.

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brandonxnellis · 7 years ago

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Automatic Reply Text Message

Automatic Replies: Enjoy Your Life – Let Your iPhone Do all the Work

Ding! Ding!

They don’t realize you’re stuck in stop-and-go traffic.

You don’t want to risk texting them, but you don’t want to ignore them either.

What do you do?

No more confusion and hurt feelings.

Interested in learning more about auto messaging and how it can benefit you?

Keep reading to find out how auto reply works, the five types of people who need autoresponders, and where to download an auto-response messaging app…

What is auto messaging?

The two types

“Automatic reply” or “auto messaging” can refer to:

A standard automatic response sent from your phone to any text received (similar to an email vacation autoresponder)

Pros and cons

Unsurprisingly, there are benefits and difficulties with each messaging type.

Standard responses

With a generalized autoresponder, you won’t miss a message. You’ll be able to communicate with everyone interested in contacting you.

However, if a friend tries repeatedly to get in touch, your phone will message one response for each text they send.

Even if you use unlimited messaging, if international friends text your phone, your auto-responses could add steep charges to your phone bill – simply because of long-distance charges.

Specific responses

A response sent to a specific text can be an invaluable tool – or a frustrating one.

It’s not generally difficult to explain a specific responder: “Text just the word ‘hours’ to this number for our hours,” but some people will still need help.

Who can benefit from auto messaging?

Nearly everyone could save time and decrease confusion with autoresponders. Still, some will appreciate automatic messaging more than others.

The five types of individuals who would especially benefit from auto messaging include:

Business owners

Event planners

Vacationing couples and families

Busy professionals

Individuals with an unpredictable work schedule

We’ve broken down the “why” of each of these below.

Business owners

If you own a store, you may spend a significant amount of time answering a few common customer questions such as:

“What are your hours?”

“Are you open over the holidays?”

“What are your Christmas Eve hours?”

“How long does this sale last?”

“What’s on sale right now?”

Don’t individually respond to each question; set up an autoresponder. With an autoresponder, your customers can receive instant, current information on hours and other questions.

Event planners

Whether you’re a corporate event planner, fundraising coordinator, or wedding planner, an autoresponder can significantly simplify your life.

“Agenda”: respond with the day’s agenda

“Wifi”: respond with the venue’s wifi information

“Question”: respond with the phone numbers of two individuals who can answer vendor, photographer, caterer, and guest questions (instead of you)

“Start time”: respond with the event’s start time

“Doors”: respond with the time the venue doors open

“Ceremony directions,” “reception directions,” or simply “directions”: respond with directions from a major landmark, for both guests and vendors

Vacationing couples and families

What’s the one thing you don’t want to hear on vacation?

Ocean waves?

Island music?

Phone ring?

Busy professionals

If you have a demanding work schedule, an autoresponder could simplify your life.

Individuals with unpredictable work schedules

How does automatic messaging work?

The easiest way to set up automatic messaging is to download an auto response app. Some automatic texting apps are free, while others charge a small fee.

Be careful: in this case, the cliche “you get what you pay for” applies. Free apps don’t offer the same advanced, reliable features as paid apps.

Then, you’re able to set up each message individually: general responses, specific texts, and more.

Autoresponders can provide customers with instant answers, communicate care to friends during busy times, and serve as a valuable tool for event planners and other professionals.

Setting up automatic messaging on your phone

Ready to get started with automatic messaging? Whether you’re looking at a dedicated business line or simple vacation message, here’s how to set up automatic messaging on your smartphone.

1. Download an app

Connect to wifi and download the app. When it’s finished installing, drag it to a screen or folder where you’ll find it easily.

2. Register for the app

3. Open your auto responses

Open up the settings for your texting. These may be in your account settings, or they may be their own category. For Hushed, you’ll find auto response settings under “Number Settings.”

Then, select the autoresponder feature. With Hushed, this brings up a screen with a red + in the right-hand corner. Tap the + to add an auto response.

If you already have some auto responses set up, you can turn them on and off from here as well.

4. Compose your response

5. Turn on the response

Once you’ve finished creating your automatic reply, turn it on to start messaging people and simplifying your life!

Final thoughts

The post Automatic Reply Text Message appeared first on Hushed.

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brandonxnellis · 7 years ago

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Wifi calling- The important things to know

Wi-Fi Calling

Wi-Fi calling uses a Wi-Fi connection to make phone calls over the internet, instead of using the network of cell towers owned by wireless carriers and providers. Generally, your carrier and phone will determine if you are able to place phone calls through Wi-Fi or not.

In the past support for Wi-Fi calling was limited. Today, most major cell phone carriers now support Wi-Fi calling, and the option to connect to Wi-Fi now comes standard with the most recent iPhones and Android devices.

How Wi-Fi Calling Works

When Wi-Fi calling is turned on or enabled on your mobile device, all of the Wi-Fi networks that the device connects to do the work that would otherwise be handled by cell phone towers. Wi-Fi calling allows you to make high-quality phone calls (and send texts and other media) to people who are connected to a Wi-Fi network.

Placing a Wi-Fi call it’s just like placing a regular cellphone call. There is no need to log in, and typically no need to use an app to get the job done.

Wi-Fi Calling: the technology

Wi-Fi calling relies on a technology called SIP/IMS that sends your phone call through the internet instead of routing to a cell tower. Since you’re not using a cell tower to place the call, you don’t need a cellular service in order to make a call.

With the popularity of free public Wi-Fi hotspots, making phone calls from more places may be cheaper than ever before. In fact, most fast food restaurants, stores, hotels and coffee shops (among other public areas) offer free wifi hotspots.

In the past, phone calls and wireless data connections to the internet were entirely separate services that utilized different antennas to connect on different frequencies.

Over the last several years, upgrades have consistently been made to improve the wireless connection, making the use of wifi for high-quality phone calls and multimedia messages a reality. Meanwhile, smartphones themselves have gone through significant upgrades to improve the use of wifi connections as well.

For example, Apple calls the new technology Voice over LTE (or VoLTE), AT&T refers to it as HD Voice, and Verizon calls it either Advanced Calling or HD Voice, but its all essentially Wi-Fi calling.

For the iPhone, Apple released FaceTime Audio in 2013, giving users the ability to choose between using the cell tower network or the phone’s Wi-Fi connection for the first time. This was the first time in history that the two technologies had been put side by side, giving consumers the option to choose and toggle between the two options.

Advantages of Wi-Fi Calling

Why would you choose to call through the Internet instead of placing a regular cellular call? There are several advantages to using Wi-Fi to place phone calls instead of using your cell phone plan minutes.

Free Calls Anywhere you can Access Wi-Fi

You can use Wi-Fi calling any time that your phone has a Wi-Fi signal. That means even if you haven’t paid for your service and can’t make regular calls, anytime you are at a location with an open Wi-Fi connection, you can typically log on to the internet and use Wi-Fi calling instead.

Better Quality Voice / Audio

LTE voice sounds so much better than traditional cellular technology because it uses the technology that wireless carriers have been upgrading for the last several years: the phone’s connection to the internet.

Beat Poor Cellular Reception

Wi-Fi calling provides an option for families and individuals who live in areas with poor cellular reception. If they have Wi-Fi, they can bypass the cellular network and make phone calls using their Wi-Fi internet connection, as long as the other party is connected to Wi-Fi or LTE, too.

No Roaming Charges

Wi-Fi calling is great for overseas travelers because there’s typically no roaming or international charge for making calls or sending texts back home Also, Wi-Fi calling is free except for data usage which means that you can use it abroad and avoid paying extra for international calls.

Disadvantages of Wi-Fi Calling

On the other side of the coin, Wi-Fi calling is of course not possible without a clear Wi-Fi connection. Despite recent expansion, LTE coverage is still not as widely available as 3G and other older data networks. If both parties don’t have LTE voice coverage, phone calls connect using the traditional cellular network.

Data Use (and charges)

Unless you’re using your home’s internet for Wi-Fi or using the connection provided at a place of business or school, Wi-Fi calling will default to using your phone’s data plan. Calls typically use about 1 MB of data per minute for a call, and 6-8 MB of data for a video call.

Variations in Signal Strength

Trying to get the best signal for a WiFi call is challenging. Many times, the quality of service is through individual users with a WiFi network, and there is no guarantee there will be enough bandwidth for a high-quality call. Plus, signal strength can diminish as more people attempt to use the same network, such as at hotels, airports or athletic stadiums.

Delays in Data Transfer

With Wi-Fi calling service there may be a 1- or 2-second delay in the conversation.

Deduction of “Minutes” Possible with Some Plans

Some cellular companies, like T-Mobile, deduct minutes from your plan if it isn’t unlimited. Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile will still charge an international rate if you call an international line using your U.S.-based smartphone.

Not Supported in all Countries

Wi-Fi calling isn’t supported in some countries, including Australia and China.

Setting up Wi-Fi Calling up on your Phone

Wi-Fi calling isn’t automatically enabled on smartphones and you may need to take a few simple steps to get it ready for use.

iPhone / Apple

For example, on an iPhone, when Wi-Fi calling becomes available, a pop-up appears reading “Enable Wi-Fi Calling?” You will then be able to choose “cancel” or “enable”. You can also turn on Wi-Fi calling anytime by going to Settings -> Phone -> Wi-Fi Calling and tapping the switch next to Wi-Fi Calling On This iPhone.

Android Devices

To activate android Wi-Fi Calling, first open Settings, then click More – More Settings (under wireless and network). After selecting “Wi-Fi Calling” you must activate it to enable the feature. If you can’t find this option, search for it, as it might be located somewhere else in the interface.

For Wi-Fi calling to work, you need to be connected to Wi-Fi and the other party needs to be connected to Wi-Fi or LTE. If either piece is missing, the phone call will use the older cellular bands.

To see if your phone is HD Voice-enabled and if you have the HD Voice feature activated try to manually enable VoLTE. To do so on an iPhone, go to Settings – Cellular – Enable LTE and select Voice and Data.

Once you activate Wi-Fi calling, you dial or text as usual. The routing of your call or text is handled automatically in the background.

Carrier-Specific Instructions & Set-Up

Sprint

Sprint Wi-Fi calling is available on most recent Android devices and iPhones, starting with the iPhone 5C. Check your phone’s settings menu to see if it’s supported. For Androids, go to Settings and look for the Wi-Fi Calling option. To get device-specific support to set up Wi-Fi calling, go to Device Support.

T-Mobile

All new T-Mobile phones support Wi-Fi calling. To find out if your existing model supports it, go to the Devices page, find your device, select “Wi-Fi” from “browse by categories,” choose “Turn on/off Wi-Fi calling” and follow the instructions.

AT&T

AT&T’s latest models from Apple, Samsung, and LG support Wi-Fi calling. To find out if your phone supports Wi-Fi calling, go to Device Support, find and select your device, select “View All Solutions,” selection “Calling” and then “Wi-Fi Calling” to view the instructions. If Wi-Fi calling isn’t listed, your phone isn’t compatible.

Verizon

New Verizon Android phones and iPhones should all support Wi-Fi calling. To turn on Wi-Fi calling, on Android, follow the directions on Verizon’s Activate Wi-Fi Calling – Android page. You’ll also find instructions for iPhones on Verizon’s Turn Wi-Fi Calling On/Off page. It says it’s for iPhone 7/7Plus at the top of the page, but it applies to iPhone 6 / 6 Plus / 6s / 6s Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 8 / 8 Plus and iPhone X as well.

Using an App for Wi-Fi Calling

If your phone or carrier doesn’t support Wi-Fi calling you can always send calls and text through an app like FaceTime, Google Voice, Line, Skype or one of the many other calling apps that can be downloaded onto a cell phone. Remember, you’ll still need a data connection like a carrier plan or Wi-Fi connection.

Facebook Messenger

Facebook Messenger is a free app that can be used for Wi-Fi calling. Facebook Messenger is Facebook’s standalone messaging app. It features free messaging, free calls, and free video chats. You do typically need to be friends on Facebook to use the app with them.

However, Facebook Messenger is notorious for using up both processor resources and quickly draining your battery. However, despite its shortcomings, this app is quite popular, in large part because Facebook is so widely used

Google Duo

Google Duo is another free video chatting app compatible with Wi-Fi connections. Once downloaded, open the app, enter your phone number, and start making free video calls. Google Duo is multi-platform; it works on both iOS and Android and does a moderately good job with video and voice call quality. One downside: both sides of the phone call do have to be using Google Duo.

Google Hangouts

Hangouts (by Google) is another popular app with the capacity to voice call, video call, and message anyone for free as long as they are also using Hangouts. Get the Hangouts Dialer app that allows free calling to most US and Canada numbers. All you need is a Google account.’

Skype

Skype is one of the most popular free calls apps. Skype is capable of being used on cell phones, computers, tablets, and most other computing devices. You can send text messages, voice calls, and video calls for free to other people who use Skype. You can pay for credits if you want to call actual phone numbers.

Wi-Fi Safety / Privacy Concerns: valid?

Wi-Fi calling is generally safe, even though your data is being sent over possibly unsecured Wi-Fi networks. It is safe because the mobile carrier typically encrypts your voice data.

Some voice-over-Wi-Fi apps bypass your mobile carrier and may have no encryption though. If you are using one of these apps, and your phone is connected to a public Wi-Fi hotspot, you could be in danger of being overheard by Wi-Fi hackers. Using a VPN like PRIVATE Wi-Fi which encrypts all the data, including your voice, may be prudent if privacy is a concern.

However, just because Wi-Fi calling is generally safe does not mean browsing the web is. A good rule of thumb is to NOT log into or type in any usernames or passwords on any websites when using public Wi-Fi. Assume that all information may be intercepted and is therefore not a secured transmission.

Closing Thoughts

Wi-Fi calling can make a big difference if you have limited minutes, get poor reception, or travel abroad. It’s easy to set up on newer smartphones and can be used in any place with an open Wi-Fi connection.

However, despite these benefits, one should always take precautions with regards to safety and privacy when utilizing any public Wi-Fi connection. Presume that the line is open to interception and refrain from typing or saying any usernames or passwords or logging into any site or account where you have personal or valuable information stored.

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The Best Cheap Cell Phone Plans You've Never Heard Of

There are a lot of smartphone options beyond the big four carriers in the US. If you're looking to save money, these lesser-known plans might be the ticket. There are a lot of options beyond the big four phone carriers in the US. If you're looking to save money, these lesser-known plans might be the ticket. from DDigits WP Feed 1 https://ift.tt/2J1CbE3 via IFTTT

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brandonxnellis · 7 years ago

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Google Voice Alternative

Where to Go After Google Voice?

If you’ve been using Google Voice, you know the service is a brilliant idea and a very useful application…however, the app is rarely updated and as with most things non-search engine related with Google, it doesn’t get much love and attention from the company.

Texts are dropped, voicemail transcriptions are badly botched, and features generally don’t go beyond basic phone functionality. Google Voice, in concept, is an excellent idea. In reality, it can be difficult to use on a consistent basis and isn’t nearly as reliable as one would expect from a behemoth of a company like Google.

Looking for an Alternative?

Are you looking for a more professional alternative – something you can use on a regular basis for business calls from clients, customers, and contacts? Are you hoping to find a second-line alternative for Tinder dates or Craigslist sales? Whatever your reason for needing a second number, luckily, Google Voice isn’t your only choice.

Dozens of engineers have stepped up to create Google Voice alternatives, from business phone applications to second-phone simulators. Many of these options charge a small fee for their service but remain updated, reliable, and innovative. Frankly, the reliability, quality and often security of your data is worth the nominal costs.

Wondering where to find these alternatives, and whether any may be right for you? Below, we’ll help you choose the best Google Voice alternative given your situation, and will help you learn how to preserve your Google Voice texts and voicemails when getting started with your new service or app.

The Features We Don’t Want To Leave Behind

Let’s face it: It’s hard to leave Google Voice. Yes, the features are unreliable. When they work, though, these features are extremely helpful.

Before deciding which new app is best for you, it’s important to determine which Google Voice features you depend on most. Then, you can find an app with comparable (or better) features.

Here are the features we’ll use to evaluate Google Voice alternatives…

The Features

Custom phone number

One of the most important features with a second-phone application is the ability to choose a custom phone number. If you’re running a business, it’s crucial to hold a memorable phone number. Vanity numbers, number patterns, and local area codes are all critical for ensuring your customers remember your number and contact your business. If you’re using Google Voice for a personal phone number, this is less important (but still a nice feature).

Separate voicemail

When someone contacts you, you want to greet them with an appropriate voicemail. For your friends, you may want to say “Hi, thanks for reaching Megan’s phone! Leave me a message!”…but for your business phone you may want to say “Thank you for calling Three Cookies Bakery. Our hours are Monday through Friday….” If your business phone number redirects to your personal voicemail, both customers and friends will be confused.

While some apps will provide a separate, customizable voicemail, not all do. Look for this feature specifically when signing up for a second number.

Wifi-compatible calls (VoIP)

This may or may not be a feature you personally rely on. After all, we’re living in an age of unlimited minutes and nearly-limitless coverage on almost every network. Why bother with wifi-compatible (VoIP) calling?

It’s easy to forget: phones don’t always have good service. If you travel frequently for work, your phone may not have good reception in some areas. You may struggle to reach even 2 bars from the inside of an office building or warehouse. If you find yourself working from a basement, you likely won’t have much cell coverage. While moments of spotty coverage are rare, they still influence our ability to connect with others reliably. What if a client calls you on the one day you’re out on a rural sales call? Or the one day you’re working from a warehouse with poor reception?

VoIP calling ensures you are always able to contact your customers, as long as you are near a wifi connection. In our modern world, nearly every business and building is connected to wifi; with VoIP, you won’t miss a call even if you’re working from an area with low cell reception.

The best apps aren’t just VoIP apps. The best apps will measure both your cell connection and your wifi connection, and determine which is stronger, and place your call over the stronger connection. By offering the best of both worlds, these apps provide a reliable service for your business or personal second phone.

Apps that offer alternatives

Wondering which apps provide these features? We’ve listed the top apps for these features below, organized by feature. Find the feature you can’t live without, then read to learn which apps could offer you a Google Voice replacement service:

Custom phone number

Many people using Google Voice rely on their vanity number. For businesses, it’s especially important to have a memorable phone number. Replacing your Google Voice number may mean losing your vanity number – so replacing it with something equally memorable is crucial.

Here are our favorite apps that offer a vanity phone number:

Sideline: Sideline was built to provide basic second-phone features for small businesses. Sideline starts by asking you the area code you’d like to use for your new number, then allowing you the opportunity to select a phrase or string of numbers to include in your number.Sideline is perfect for local businesses who want a local area code and simple features.

Hushed: Hushed was created for individuals and businesses who want options. Unlike other services (including Sideline), Hushed allows multiple phone numbers for the same individual. Do you want a Customer Service phone number and a Sales phone number? Do you want a separate phone number for your professional contacts and your customers? How about a phone number for friends and family, and one for Tinder dates? (One to burn when a first date goes south, without losing all your friends’ information) With Hushed, you can have as many phone numbers as you need.Hushed also offers vanity and custom numbers, so every phone number can be memorable.

Dingtone: Dingtone is even more simple than Sideline, with just calling and texting features. Dingtone doesn’t allow searching of vanity phrases, but it does allow searching for number strings. If you’re looking for a basic app and have a specific number you’d like, Dingtone may be the choice for you.

MightyCall: MightyCall has advanced, complex features for larger businesses and call centers. If your business fields dozens or hundreds of calls per day, MightyCall offers features that could help you serve customers without losing track of them. However, if your business is smaller or you don’t want to learn to use a new, complex system, another app may be better.

MightyCall offers vanity phone numbers for area codes across the United States.

Separate voicemail

Setting up a custom voicemail is important for businesses using a second phone number. A voicemail greets your customers when you’re occupied, offers helpful information (such as hours and directions), and makes a professional first impression for new customers.

Not every service offers custom voicemail. Here are the best apps for simple, custom voicemails:

Hushed: Hushed provides a straightforward custom voicemail for each number in a profile. Checking voicemail with Hushed is simple, and voicemails can even be saved to Dropbox or other applications.

MightyCall: MightyCall’s voicemail isn’t simple, but it’s reliable and useful. With MightyCall, your voicemails are transcribed, summarized, and saved in one place. You can read a summary of each voicemail to see which are the most important, listen to each message, and respond from your phone or your computer.There’s a small learning curve due to the service’s complexity, but once you learn to use it, you can save time with MightyCall’s voicemail features.

Wifi-compatible calls (VoIP)

Your phone may not be able to receive calls if you’re working from a basement, warehouse, large office building, or low-reception part of a city. If you travel frequently, spotty reception can become an even greater problem.

By relying on an app that uses wifi instead of a cell network to make calls, you ensure your phone’s continued functioning even in areas of low service.

Some services that offer VoIP calling include:

Hushed: All of Hushed’s calls and texts are received and sent over wifi. You’ll never worry about extra texts and minutes showing up on your phone bill because Hushed doesn’t interact with your phone plan. Hushed even supports international calls – helpful if your business is located near the US/Canada or US/Mexico border, works with travelling individuals, or ships products internationally.If you’re using your second number for friends and family, Hushed’s international wifi calling ensures you’ll be able to use your phone even if you travel to a country where your network is not supported. And since Hushed supports international calling from the US, you’ll be able to keep in touch with all your new friends after your journey.

In fact, if you really need to make a call during a long international flight, you could do so by using Hushed and the plane’s wifi.

Sideline: Sideline’s default mode is using your phone plan. This can become a hassle if you have limited minutes or texts, if you lose reception frequently, or if you need to make a call while travelling. However, if you are rarely in an area with wifi reception, Sideline may be a better option.Sideline does offer VoIP calls, but customers have complained that these can be spotty and unreliable. Test out a few in different areas to make sure the feature works for you before telling customers to call you at your new number, just in case.

Dingtone: Dingtone has very few features – great for individuals who simply need phone features, but difficult for anyone who wants bells and whistles. VoIP calling, however, is one of the features Dingtone offers. If you need wifi calling and don’t want a lot of other features, you may like Dingtone.

Finding the best company

Features aren’t the only factor to consider when choosing a new company to replace your Google Voice account. If you plan to use your number for business or personal needs long-term, you’ll want an app that is frequently updated and well-maintained. After all, in a couple years, you may buy a new phone or have different communication needs – your second-phone app needs to grow with you.

Here are the top three things to look at when considering a second-phone company:

Current updates

When was the last update to the app? What operating systems is it compatible with? Does the company have an active blog or media presence? What are users saying about its functionality?

As our phones change and advance, so apps need to change to function properly. Every time your phone is updated – even if it’s just a software update – app engineers must double-check their programming to ensure your app continues to function properly. If you download an app that hasn’t been updated recently, you risk increasingly-unreliable calls and texts.

Reliable features

Some apps are innovative and updated, but don’t function properly. Unfortunately, these apps can be hard to spot at first glance: you may think the more simple apps are more reliable, but sometimes, the opposite is true. Read reviews, test extensively, and try multiple apps before settling on one – you don’t want to give customers a phone number that won’t function.

Innovative features

While some may prefer a simple app, committing to a simple app may be a bad decision.

Sure, today you only need calling and texting. What about two years from now? Five years from now? Your business may need automatic texting in a few years. You may have a date go south, and want to burn your phone number and start over. You may want other features you aren’t aware of yet.

Some apps, like MightyCall, throw you into a dozen features all at once. Others, like Hushed, allow you to use whichever you need when you need them. Just want to call and text right now? That’s fine. Want auto-replies in the future? Hushed supports that. Need to burn your number and start over? Go for it. Don’t move your phone service every time your needs change. Find an app with enough features to support your continued personal and professional growth.

How to install an app with a new number

Ready to start fresh? Here’s how to set up your new phone number with a second-number app:

1. Set up your new app

Follow the above guide to find the service most appropriate to your needs. Then, follow their instructions for setup.

Most, if not all, support mobile sign-ups through app download. To download your chosen app, go to the App Store or Google Play while your phone is connected to wifi. Type the app name in the search bar, then select and download the app. You may be asked to re-enter your password or payment information, depending on your settings.

Once your app is finished downloading, drag it to a folder or position where you’ll find it easily on a regular basis (for example, next to your “dialer” app, or the shortcuts bar).

Then, tap it to set it up.

Many apps support Facebook/Google account linking, so you won’t have to create an entirely new profile to sign up. Others don’t need any personal information; for these, you’ll just need to enter your current phone number to link the app to your cell network.

Most will allow you to choose a new number. Be careful, because some apps (like Sideline) only allow one phone number per person (Hushed allows unlimited numbers per person, and you can always “burn” a number and start over if you decide to). Think carefully about the number you choose.

For most second-phone apps, you’ll need to pay for a subscription after your free trial is over. Some will ask for credit information during signup – some will ask for it after the trial ends.

Then, you’re finished! Start calling friends and family, customers and clients, and anyone else you’d like to get in touch with through your app.

2. Notify friends, family, and clients

Don’t forget to tell others your number has changed! If no one knows your number is different, they may keep contacting your Google Voice number.

It’s important to keep your Google Voice number around for a few months, in case any customers or friends call or text personal information to it. After a few months, however, everyone should be aware that your number has changed.

The best way to tell everyone your number has changed is, oddly enough, not through the phone. Google Voice doesn’t support group texting, so you can’t send out a mass message that says “I’ve changed my number!” from Google Voice (that may be confusing anyway). Text people from your new number, and some people may not look at, feel confused, or wonder whether you’re a spammer.

For the least confusion, use Facebook or email to spread the word about your new number. Since most people check Facebook and email on their phone anyway, it’ll be simple for friends and family to update your number right away.

3. Back up your Google Voice data

Finally, before you swear off Google Voice forever, don’t forget to backup your data. You don’t want to lose the priceless text messages and precious voicemails from friends and family, or important information from clients and business contacts. Here’s how to backup and export your Google Voice data before you leave:

Go to takeout.google.com to view all services that can be backed up

Click “Select None” in the upper right corner to un-select all of the Google Services. If you backup everything at once, you’ll create a massive, time-consuming file.

Just backup Google Voice by selecting “Google Voice” as the service you’d like to backup.

Click “Next” and follow the prompts to backup your data.

If you only want to backup a few voicemails, just click the “More” button below the voicemail file on Google Voice and click “Download” from the drop-down menu.

Final thoughts

The concepts behind the creation of Google Voice – a second vanity phone number, VoIP calling, custom voicemails – are useful for both individuals and businesses. Sadly, Google Voice itself is no longer updated frequently or maintained. If you’re looking for an alternative solution, many software engineers have stepped up to provide Google Voice alternatives for the VoIP vanity-number market.

When you look for a Google Voice alternative, don’t forget to check available features and reliability of your new service. Not all apps are made alike: Sideline offers team numbers (one phone number for multiple employees), Hushed offers auto reply texting (your customers text you “hours” and you respond instantly with the hours for that week), MightyCall offers call-center capabilities (“Your call is important to us. Press one for sales…”).

Some function through your network plan as well as your wifi. Some have more reliable features than others. They’re all different.

We believe Hushed is the most reliable second-number app, with the best features for businesses and individuals. Hushed was built to provide simple straightforward phone functions under a second phone number – and offer technologically-advanced options to those who are interested in a little more functionality.

If you’re switching from Google Voice, consider Hushed. You won’t be disappointed.

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Sideline App Review

Sideline review: A Business Number, But Not Much Else

Have you ever wanted a work phone number or second phone mobile phone line that was separate from your personal number?

Maybe you have a work number – but it’s your office phone, and you’d like one linked to your personal cell phone.

Maybe you run a side gig, and you want the business to have a memorable phone number. Or maybe you’d just like to separate work texts and personal texts to help you focus on improving your work-life balance.

Professionals around the world turn to second-line apps, like Hushed, Google Voice, Sideline, and others to provide secondary business numbers linked to their cell phone. While most of these apps are high-quality, some are more impressive than others.

Today, we’re reviewing Sideline. Although Sideline seems to be built well for businesspeople and entrepreneurs, it also has various problems that affect reliability and function. Keep reading to learn who benefits from Sideline, who doesn’t, and whether or not it’s right for you:

About Sideline the App and Company

What is Sideline?

Sideline offers a single dedicated phone number for your business. Your Sideline calls, texting, and voicemail are separate from your personal communication, for increased privacy and organization. Sideline also offers automatic text responses to missed calls (sends a text to someone if you miss their call) among other features.

Sideline is customized for business needs but only provides basic features. It’s a well-built app for professionals who are looking for a second phone number and don’t need any extra bells and whistles. However, businesspeople who envision their business needs growing and changing should invest in an app with more capabilities.

The company behind Sideline

The founders of Sideline wanted to offer business owners another means of setting up a second phone number. They introduced Sideline with custom phone numbers, auto-reply texting, and similar features to help professionals separate their work life from their personal life. The company’s app and web design reflect the simplicity which they hope to bring to clients’ lives.

Features of Sideline App

Sideline features a few helpful capabilities for professionals. Some of these include:

Custom phone number

The signup process for Sideline allows you to choose: would you like to keep an existing phone number, or select a new one? New phone numbers include custom ones, like “330-DOG-TOYS” or “421-421-4211.” Be careful when you select a phone number – pick something that will be appropriate for a variety of situations. While you can change your number at any time, you can only have one number linked to your account at a time. If you have multiple businesses or industries, this number will be a reference for contacts across all of them.

Team phone number

Work on a team? Try Sideline’s team phone number option. With this feature, you can add others to your account. All members on the line can respond to texts, voicemails, calls, and more.

This feature is especially helpful if you need a phone number that functions similar to a landline or front desk. However, if you need to communicate privately with clients, you won’t be able to do so alongside the team phone feature.

Automatic replies

Automatic replies are nothing new. Several high-quality second-line apps now offer automatic replies. However, Sideline is one of the few apps that offers text responses to voicemails.

If a customer calls you and leaves a voicemail, when they finish, Sideline will send them a custom message. You can set this message in the app: for example, it might say “I’m sorry I missed your call! Is there something I can help you with over text?”

While this can be helpful and time-saving for some customers, others may be put off by your response. It may seem as though you don’t have time to call them – maybe you don’t value them enough for a phone conversation. Additionally, some questions are better handled over the phone than through text. After receiving your auto-reply, your customer may feel obligated to explain a complex or personal matter over text (when they would have preferred a call).

Automatic replies to voicemails can be helpful or hurtful. It’s important to consider the attitude of your clientele and professional contacts before you activate a feature like this one, to avoid hurt feelings and lost contacts.

Additionally, unfortunately, Sideline does not currently offer automatic replies to specific texts – for example, responding to “hours” with store hours, or “sales” with current sales. These tools are important tools for businesses. If you’d like more advanced automatic replies, you’ll have to look elsewhere (Hushed offers these and other auto response features).

Voicemail transcriptions

Finally, like several other second-line apps, Sideline offers voicemail transcriptions. Too busy to listen to voicemail? Read a transcription. In a situation where listening to a voicemail is difficult – maybe you’re at the gym, or in a noisy area? Read the transcription.

This feature may not be unique to Sideline, but without voicemail transcription, Sideline would be significantly less helpful.

How to Install the Sideline App

Thinking of starting with Sideline? Installing doesn’t take too long. You’ll need a few minutes, a smartphone, and a solid internet or data connection. Ready?

Here’s what to do:

1. Download Sideline from the App Store or Google Play

Tap the App Store or Google Play icon on your phone, and search for “Sideline.” When you find it, install it to your phone. You may be asked to re-enter your account password, depending on your phone settings.

2. Pick a number

Once the app is finished downloading, tap it to open Sideline. The app will ask your desired area code for your new number. It’s best to choose something local so that clients and contacts will remember your number better.

After you pick an area code, Sideline will display the available phone numbers for that area. You can scroll to find one you like, or type a phrase into the search bar to look for a particular number (“dogs,” “smile,” “tutor,” “yum,” etc.). Tap the number you want to lock it in.

3. Confirm your current phone

Once you’ve picked your new phone number, Sideline will link the new number to your existing phone. The app will ask for your current phone number. It’ll also request that you create a password, for greater app security. Sideline will send a confirmation text to your phone to ensure your new number is linked to your personal phone. When you’ve entered this code into the confirmation screen, your signup is complete!

4. Start a free trial

Sideline isn’t free. The service charges $9.99/month (at the time of the writing of this post), but Sideline allows you to try it for free for 7 days. If you don’t like it after a week, you can cancel without any extra charges.

How to use the Sideline App

If you’ve downloaded Sideline, here’s how to get the most out of your new phone.

Set up auto-replies

There are a few steps to set up automatic replies.

First, open your Sideline settings by tapping the gear icon in the upper righthand corner of the screen.

Turn on the “Auto-Reply to Calls” setting. If you’d like to set a custom message, tap “Add a Custom Reply.”

A screen will open, which will allow you to type out your autoresponse message.

Finally, make sure there is a green check mark next to your custom reply. Without a green check mark, your reply won’t send.

That’s it! To test the greeting, have a friend call your Sideline number and let it go to voicemail. Then, when they hang up, ask them to check their text messages to see if they received your new greeting.

Set up team number

Team numbers can be tricky.

If anyone on your team has an existing Sideline account, they can’t join your team.

And if anyone on your team is already on someone else’s Sideline team, they can’t join your team.

Before you go to the trouble of setting up a Sideline team, make sure everyone you need on your team is brand-new to Sideline. No previous accounts.

Go into your Sideline settings by tapping the gear icon in the upper-right corner. Then, tap “Team Number.”

You’ll see an informational screen explaining team numbers. Confirm you’ve read the tutorial to continue.

The next screen will show the names of individuals currently on your team. Since you’re just setting up a team now, there should be no one besides you. Add a member by tapping “Invite Member.”

Sideline will pull up a list of your contacts. Tap the desired contact and confirm you’d like them on your team to add them to your list.

There is no limit to the number of people who can be on your team.

Once you’ve set up your team, make sure you confirm call and text procedures with everyone in the group. Since all responses will come from one number, customers won’t necessarily know that multiple individuals have access to the same phone number (unless you tell them). Consistency in responses is crucial.

Manage voicemail

Setting up voicemail with Sideline can be difficult. You may need to try multiple methods to start receiving voicemails and voicemail transcriptions on your Sideline account.

Here are a few methods that have worked for Sideline customers:

Method one: Forward all calls to voicemail

Unfortunately, turning on this setting means your phone will never ring when receiving a call to your Sideline number. Clients will always be prompted to immediately leave a voicemail.

If you want to set up “Forward all calls to voicemail,” just tap your “Settings” icon (in the upper right corner of your screen in Sideline) and turn on “Forward all calls to voicemail.”

Method two: Never decline a call

If you want to have the option of picking up a call from Sideline, you can turn off “Forward all calls to voicemail” and allow your phone to ring each time someone calls.

However, if you decline a call from Sideline, your caller won’t be sent to your Sideline voicemail. Instead, your main provider will pick up the call, sending them to your personal voicemail.

If you want a caller to go to your Sideline voicemail, let the call ring through each time. Be sure to tell all members of your Sideline team to let calls ring through, or customers may be sent to your team members’ voicemails.

App Specs

Company: Pinger, Inc.

Languages: English, Arabic, Burmese, Cambodian, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Filipino, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Malay, Norwegian Bokmål, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese

iOS Specs

Size: 114.4 MB

Compatibility: iOS 10.0 or later

Age: 12+ for Infrequent/Mild Medical/Treatment Information

Rating: 4.1 stars, 1.7K ratings

Android Specs

Size: 14 MB

Compatibility: Varies by the device

Age: Everyone

Rating: 4.5 stars, 56.8K ratings

Pros and Cons of Sideline

Sideline can be a useful tool for some businesses. However, it lacks some important features – and complicates the use of the few features it offers. Below, we’ve summarized the pros and cons of using Sideline for your business:

Pro: Automatic responses to voicemails

If this feature is attractive to you, Sideline may be the app for you. Automatic text responses to voicemails is a unique feature not offered by many other second-number apps. It can allow you to get in touch with busy customers, coordinate plans and sales, and answer questions during times you may not be able to call a customer (like during your child’s naptime, or while watching a noisy sports game).

Pro: Team numbers

Another unique feature, this capability can unite your team’s efforts and make communication more efficient. Your team will be able to answer texts and calls from their personal phones, quickly and easily getting in touch with customers regarding important information. Sadly, it’s difficult to set up, and impossible if anyone on your team already has Sideline. If this feature is important to you, Sideline is the way to go; however, keep in mind that it may be a difficult journey to set up your team on the app.

Con: Many complications

Unfortunately, while Sideline’s features appear simple and streamlined on the outside, in reality, they are complex and bug-ridden. Voicemail won’t pick up unless you let a call ring through (sometimes, not even then). Teams only work if no one has used Sideline previously. You can only have on Sideline number at a time (no separate “front desk” and “office” numbers). Some individuals have needed to add their Sideline phone number to their phone’s “Do not block” list or address book in order for Sideline to work at all.

In addition, few Sideline solutions are foolproof. Most help articles explain that one solution may help one person, but not another. If you have difficulties setting up your phone with Sideline, you’ll likely spend a significant amount of time troubleshooting and trying various solutions.

Con: Uses your minutes – and your network

This might not seem like a con if you have unlimited minutes. Keep reading, though: this issue is bigger than “I’m going to run out of minutes soon.”

Sideline uses your minutes. This means if you have an international customer (maybe someone from Canada) or a long-distance call comes through, and you don’t have international minutes on your phone plan, you’ll pay extra to talk with that customer.

Sideline also relies on your current network’s connectivity. Even the best networks don’t have four bars everywhere: basements, elevators, stairways, office corners, inside larger grocery stores, the list goes on and on. There are many places where cell signal can be difficult or impossible to access.

A solution would be allowing calls through wifi instead of your phone’s network. Most stores, offices, basements, and other locations have access to strong wifi connections. Sideline is able to send and receive calls over wifi, but customers have complained that Sideline’s VoIP drops calls frequently. It’s not a reliable way to contact customers if you are in a low-network area.

Con: Only one number

As we’ve mentioned before, Sideline only allows one number per account. If you want to have separate phone numbers for different businesses, groups, or customer types (for example, a “helpline” and a “sales line” or a “client line” and a “vendor line”), you’ll need to use a different app. Even if you don’t currently need a second number, you shouldn’t limit yourself to one phone number. What happens if your business grows, you need a second phone number, but you’ve limited yourself by building your contacts around Sideline?

Final Thoughts about the App

Sideline was built to provide a simple, straightforward set of tools for businesses and teams. However, Sideline’s features are complex, bug-ridden, difficult to navigate, and rigid.

If you have some time to figure out Sideline’s features, work out bugs, and set up a team, Sideline may benefit your business. Your customers might appreciate the immediate text response Sideline will send to their voicemails or the instant replies from anyone on your team to client requests. Sideline’s custom number feature allows you to select something memorable – a key factor in attracting customer calls in the first place. And with Sideline’s dedicated texting, voicemail, and calls, you’ll keep all your business communication organized in a single location.

However, those are (for the most part) the most significant features Sideline offers. It offers these features for a steep price, too: $9.99/month, with an extra $2.99/month needed to take ads off the screen during usage. Other apps offer more and better features for a lower pri from DDigits WP Feed 1 https://ift.tt/2C3wjJb via IFTTT

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brandonxnellis · 7 years ago

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What Is 5G?

AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and other carriers will start to launch 5G networks next year. But what exactly is 5G? Here's what we know so far. AT&T, Verizon, and other carriers will start to launch 5G networks this year. But what exactly is 5G, and how fast is it compared with 4G? Here are the facts we know so far. from DDigits WP Feed 1 https://ift.tt/2OFkrQE via IFTTT

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brandonxnellis · 7 years ago

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Changing your phone number? Avoid identity theft with these tips

A phone number can signal a new and significant change in your life: a new phone, a new job, a new hometown, a new adventure. However, that adventure can turn into a nightmare if you lose track of who does (and doesn’t) have your phone number.

In our increasingly-interconnected society, phone numbers and email addresses are becoming as valuable as home and car keys.

Your phone number might receive texts from your bank, your veterinarian, your child’s school, your dermatologist, or other professionals with your personal information. If any of these chooses to text or call you with personal information, and they don’t have your current phone number, you could put yourself at risk for identity theft.

You also probably still have phone numbers stored from prior work contacts, supervisors, or coworkers. Many jobs are landed through referrals; if an old coworker sees an opportunity that fits you, will they be able to call you to let you know? You might think they would email you; but unless you gave them your personal email address, they only have your old (deactivated) company email information and, probably, your phone number.

Finally, there are always a few old friends and distant relatives who you talk to on occasion. You may not see them every week, but you appreciate being able to keep in touch when the opportunity comes up. How will you know if they’re in town for a weekend if they have the wrong phone number?

With all of these risks of changing a phone number, some people chose to keep the same number indefinitely. That can also backfire – for example, if you go on a date with someone from Tinder. Giving your date your phone number can open you up to privacy threats: if your number is listed on your LinkedIn profile, Facebook account, or another publicly available directory, a failed date could result in stalking or harassment.

Additionally, if you’re starting a new business, you may need a new or separate number to dedicate just to your clients. New businesses and dates aren’t the only situations where a new phone number is helpful; when you move to a new city, you may need to change your phone number. An unfamiliar area code can confuse your new doctors, dry cleaners, babysitters, and others, and result in missed communications and leaked information.

Getting a new phone number doesn’t mean you need to give up your old phone number; some services, like Hushed, allow you to register a new phone number that forwards calls and texts to your current phone. Hushed allows for custom voicemail, too, so you can have separate “business” and “personal” voicemail messages for callers.

Whether you choose to keep your old number or completely ditch it, changing your phone number can be a tricky process. Keep reading for our top tips on making the transition smoothly:

Notify everyone – and that means everyone

It’s easy to post a Facebook status saying “Hey, my number changed, message me for my new number!” You may be aware that a few individuals and institutions (like your bank, or your boss) aren’t connected with you on Facebook and need a specific notification about your new digits.

However, just publishing a shout-out isn’t enough. Not only will you lose some contacts, but you also might put yourself at risk for information leaks and privacy issues. Here are three things that happen when you don’t tell everyone about your new number:

You lose touch with people

You know those people who you only catch up with once or twice a year – but you always love catching up with them? How about your child’s assistant soccer coach, your go-to handyman, or the recruiter you met at a job fair a couple years ago?

If you don’t notify every individual of your new phone number, you could lose touch with friends, miss important notifications, or even miss out on career opportunities.

Your personal information might be sent to the wrong person

Today, it’s not uncommon for doctors, dentists, personal trainers, spas, and others to send sensitive information and appointment reminders over text or through voicemail.

You’ve probably signed a form stating its okay for these businesses to send personal information over the phone, and likely even appreciated the service – until now.

When you change your phone number, your old number goes to someone new; that person might find out about all your blood test results, dentist appointments, and more. Leaking this information makes you vulnerable to identity theft. If the messages go to someone with dangerous tendencies, they could even put you at risk for robbery or assault.

You could be locked out of your accounts

Have you set up two-factor authentication on any of your accounts? You know, “Before you log in, we’ll text you a code to make sure this is really you.”

No?

Are you positive – not even at your bank? Even if you generally avoid the hassle of authentication, many online banking systems require it.

If you forget to change your phone number within your online accounts and at your financial institution, you might end up sending the two-factor authentication code to a total stranger. Not only is this a security risk, but it can completely lock you out of your account.

Pro tip: Register a new number, but let your old number stick around too

If you could keep your old number and get a new number, would you?

A “burner number” or “privacy number” is a phone number that receives calls and messages, forwarding them to your main phone – allowing you to keep your original phone number as well as a new one. You can make calls and send texts from your new number, or you can make calls and send texts from your original number; it’s up to you.

A privacy number keeps you from losing touch with important people and institutions even with a new phone number.

If you need a new number but don’t want to give up your old one, Hushed.com is the best solution. Hushed lets you keep your old number while registering a new one (and they offer numbers in over 45 countries). With affordable pricing plans and custom voicemail, it’s a great way to make a fresh start without the hassle of changing your number everywhere.

How to make sure you notify everyone

If you do change your phone number, it’s important to notify everyone in a timely way. By notifying everyone at once, you cut back on future confusion (“But I thought Mary’s number was something else?” “Maybe neither of us have the right number?”) ensure your privacy, and can make a quick, clean transition.

Here are a few people to remember to tell about your new digits:

Your healthcare team. Appointment reminders, lab results, and more could accidentally be sent to your old number if you don’t notify your healthcare professionals. Even if your home number was a landline, be careful: these offices might still have sent text messages to your landline and could continue giving your information over text to the new number.

Your child’s teachers and coaches. The last thing you want is for your child’s teacher to call a stranger and give sensitive information about your child’s location and activities to someone you don’t know. Even if you’re not sure whether a teacher or coach has their number, be sure to ask.

Your business network. Whether it’s your clients, your manager, or your network contacts, be sure to notify your business network of your number change. If you’re on good terms with previous coworkers or supervisors, don’t forget to send them a message – if they see a job opportunity and think of you, they’ll need your most recent contact information for setting up a referral for the position.

Why get a new number if it’s such a hassle?

Now that we’ve covered the security and personal risks of changing your phone number, you may be reconsidering your decision to move on. After all, is a new phone number really worth the risk of being locked out of your work email?

While changing your phone number is a hassle, there are a lot of benefits to registering a new number. Here are a few reasons you should go through with changing or getting a new phone number this year:

Security concerns

From blind dates to Craigslist, there are some people you just don’t want to see again.

Unfortunately, if the phone number you give someone on Craigslist is tied to you online – listed on your Facebook profile, LinkedIn, business cards, or other profiles – these individuals could easily learn more about you and track you down.

Having a separate phone number for strangers is not just convenient; it’s also safer than using one number for everything.

Memorable

If you have your own business (or you’re in sales, and your clients contact you directly) it’s important your clients know your contact information. You can put your phone number on your business cards, in your advertisements, on your website, in the phonebook, everywhere – and your clients might still forget your number.

Registering a new phone number allows you to claim something memorable, like “613-MORE-JOY” or even “303-030-3030.” Whether you use number patterns or words to make your number distinctive, having a memorable phone number makes it easier for your clients to reach you in a pinch.

If you’ve moved

Even though you may be able to keep your original phone number after a move, changing area codes can result in a lot of confusion for new friends, doctors, and other contacts.

Non-local area codes can be easily misheard (“Was that 657 or 576?”) or written incorrectly (“Oh, I meant to write 314 but I wrote 341 by accident!”). If you’re giving your old phone number to new contacts, you’ll likely miss a few calls here or there. Those phone calls could be received by strangers, who would then have your personal information. If you’ve just moved to a new city, it’s highly recommended that you change phone numbers to something with a local area code.

Closing Thoughts about Getting a New Phone Number

Getting a new phone number is a hassle, but it can also increase your privacy and work-life balance.

One of the best ways to handle a move, a new business, or even a series of blind dates is to register a new phone number – and with services like Hushed, you have the option to keep your old phone number too.

With a two-number system, you can give your new number to specific individuals, like recruiters, clients, or even Craigslist contacts, and keep your old number for friends and family.

Whether you’re changing your number for privacy reasons or adding a new number for a new business, think carefully about who you need to notify, check on your two-step authentication, and follow up with anyone who suddenly stops contacting you. With a little planning, the stress of a phone number change can be a seamless process that increases your privacy and improves your life.

The post Changing your phone number? Avoid identity theft with these tips appeared first on Hushed.

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brandonxnellis · 7 years ago

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Line App review .. Who doesn’t need another line?

LINE.ME A Great Way to Keep in Touch

If you’re tired of downloading multiple apps for voice calls, video calls, emojis and stickers international texting, and keeping up-to-date with your friends – or if your phone is starting to run out of space with all the apps you’ve had to download – LINE might be for you.

Combining Facebook-style updates, free international texting and calling, unlimited free video chatting, photo sharing, group messages, and unique stickers and decals, LINE is an all-in-one app for keeping in touch with friends and family.

Keep reading to find out more about what LINE offers, some of the cons of using LINE, and our final verdict on whether or not you should download this app:

How it works

LINE is simple to download and use, whether you’re on desktop or mobile. There are a couple different versions of LINE, but generally, users will download the main version of LINE for top capability. Be warned that if you download the full version of LINE, and then switch to LINE: Light (which has less functionality), you won’t ever be able to log into full LINE again.

But there’s very few cases in which LINE: Light would be preferred over LINE. When you install LINE, here’s what you can expect:

Getting started

When you sign up with LINE, you’re given a free account with texting, voice calls, video calls, and your social network features all included. You’re given the opportunity to create a screen name, customize a personal avatar, and select your favorite sticker libraries to add personality to your messages and updates.

Getting started is easy:

Simply dial a number or tap on the “contacts” icon located on the home screen of the app.

Finding contacts

Because LINE integrates with your contacts, it’s easy to get in touch with people you know over LINE. If you have friends who already use the platform, you won’t need to text them to find out their username or risk accidentally adding someone you don’t know: LINE will scan your current contacts for you, and connect you with those that use LINE.

This feature makes it possible to invite friends to LINE if they aren’t using it already. Just check to see who you’re already connected with – if LINE didn’t connect you, they likely don’t know about the app.

Settings

Need to make adjustments to your app? Click on the “Settings” icon to be taken to the following screen where you can easily make changes…

Celebrities and more

In addition to friends, many celebrities are also on LINE. News channels, too (like CNN and Wikipedia) have accounts. With LINE, you won’t need to download another app to review your morning headlines or catch up on your celebrity gossip: it’s all contained in one place.

One downside to this feature, though, is that these celebrity accounts will be able to see all of your personal information once you’ve connected with them. LINE is in the process of creating accounts that won’t see your personal information even if you follow them (for public figures and companies), but at this time, LINE shows your information to anyone you connect with.

Free means free (almost)

LINE features are free between LINE users. So, for example, if your friend wants to talk on the phone about their recent trip to Hawaii, and you know they’re going to take a while, you can call them on LINE and avoid long-distance charges or minutes usage on your phone plan. Likewise, if your brother has a baby and starts sending you endless pictures of their thousands of “firsts,” you can have the pictures send to your LINE account and not worry about data charges.

Features are only free between LINE users, so you won’t be able to text or call a mobile phone number if the owner of the phone doesn’t have LINE installed. But if your friends do have LINE, these features are completely free.

Features Overview

Video calling

Video calls are another important feature of LINE. Because video calls take up a lot of bandwidth, they can be expensive to do over traditional data. If you make a video call over LINE, however, you can use Wi-Fi to connect with your friend and catch up without data costs. Wi-Fi usage means that these calls, instead of being expensive, are completely free. And because LINE offers unlimited free video calls, you can ask your best friend to give you a virtual tour of her new house, or talk to your niece while she details the many kinds of unicorns and mermaids to you.

Games and more

Games are fun on their own, but they’re even better shared. That’s why LINE introduced LINE games: these games can be added to your LINE profile and played with friends. In fact, in many of these games, you get extra points for helping your friends! In an age where it can be hard to snag an hour or two of quality time, connecting over a game can be a convenient way to interact with someone whose schedule is as jam-packed as yours.

Send and receive payments

If you need to send your friend money to cover your part of lunch, you can do that easily through LINE. No more looking through your wallet or trying to figure out complex online banking systems, or just saying “I’ll owe you one” – with LINE, you simply input your credit card information and select the user you’d like to send money to. No hassle, no worries, and no debts.

Have a friend who chronically “forgets” they owe you money? On LINE, you can request money, too. Send them a reminder of how much they owe you, and LINE will give them a way to quickly and easily send the funds your way.

Taxi

This feature is only offered in Japan; however, it’s extremely useful. With LINE’s Taxi feature, users can order and pay for a taxi through the LINE app. This makes getting home much easier, without the hassle of downloading extra apps to your phone.

Even if you don’t live in Japan, if you’re planning to visit, this feature is a handy way to hail a taxi with the click of a button.

Landline calls

Maybe not all of your friends have LINE. That’s alright. LINE still allows calls to landlines; however, there is a low charge for these calls. If you’d like to talk to a family member without LINE, and you’re low on cell phone minutes, LINE’s services might be cheaper than paying per-minute for overage on your plan (it’s definitely better than being unexpectedly cut off mid-call when you run out of minutes).

End-to-end encryption

LINE secures all text messages and calls with end-to-end encryption for maximum security. This means that another person can’t intercept and read your messages or listen to your calls without your permission. Not every free online texting app offers end-to-end encryption, so this is a significant feature for LINE.

The Benefits of Using LINE

LINE is a useful app with a variety of features that usually require downloading multiple apps. Here are a few of the reasons LINE is an innovative social media platform:

Saves phone space

Because you aren’t downloading separate apps for each task, your phone will have more space for photos, videos, and other apps. Phone space is becoming a critical issue, as developers release more and more apps, businesses begin to rely on apps for customer rewards and communication, and phones begin to take video and photos in higher quality resolutions. By saving space with LINE, you open yourself up to the opportunity to use many other mobile tools.

Keeps all your social communication in one place

“Where did I send that message?”

“Who did I share that picture with?”

“When was the last time I called them?”

These questions can be challenging to answer when you use multiple social apps for different people. However, with LINE, all your social interactions are kept in the same place. No more searching around to remember who you told about the surprise party or what pictures you did or didn’t share – it’s all right there.

Plenty of personality

LINE has a number of unique personality-oriented features, including a plethora of creative stickers and the opportunity to customize an avatar. These features allow users to express themselves within the app, adding a level of personal connection not found elsewhere.

If a friend of yours really loves LINE, there is also a line of merchandise dedicated to LINE sticker characters.

Limitless and free

LINE doesn’t have upgrades to plans with more texting or calling, doesn’t limit voice or video calls, and doesn’t charge data overages. As long as you are on Wi-Fi, LINE is completely free.

That means you also won’t have to worry about your friend’s phone being charged for overages, international calling, or long-distance minutes.

Laptop or phone

Another advantage of LINE: it doesn’t need to be used on a phone. If you’re on your laptop or even your desktop computer, you can open LINE and check your messages, hold a meeting, video call a friend, or post an update. Use LINE for work? Don’t worry about seeing other cell phone notifications during your work time – just open LINE on your computer. Phone dead? We’ve all been there! Open LINE and keep in touch with your friends without missing a beat.

Cons of Using LINE

LINE is a great social app, but it has its limitations. Here are a few issues that impact usage of LINE:

It’s not well-known internationally

LINE is mostly used in Japan, as well as a few other Asian countries. If you have plenty of friends and family in Asia, great! It may be the best way to keep in touch with them. LINE is also a fantastic option if you can get a group of family and friends to all download and use the application. However, if you live outside Asia and you’re hoping to connect with friends, LINE isn’t generally the best place to do so. Most people use Facebook instead, and Facebook’s dominance doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

Nevertheless, LINE is beginning to expand outside its Japanese roots, and may soon be more widespread than it is currently. So if you can get a group of roommates, friends, or family members on LINE, then go for it – the application itself is a fantastic platform for connection.

Additionally, if your friends or family are concerned about their information being shared, LINE is a good alternative to traditional social media. LINE makes user security a priority, and its end-to-end encryption system isn’t offered on common platforms like Instagram and Twitter (at the time of the writing of this review, Twitter was currently testing end-to-end encryption, but had not yet implemented it).

Calls to landlines aren’t free

This isn’t a huge con, because – let’s be real – when are calls to landlines ever free? It’s more of a functionality issue: if you’re downloading LINE for the free voice calls, and those calls will be made to landlines, well…your calls won’t be free. They will, however, be low-cost.

The verdict: A pretty solid service, if your friends are also using the “LINE” app

LINE combines the functionalities of texting, calling, video calling, posting updates, sending money, hailing taxis, playing games, and more, all in one place. It eliminates the need to download a dozen apps to accomplish these same tasks, simplifies the user experience by keeping connections in one spot, and offers high-quality functionality for free.

However, if you don’t have any friends on the app, its attractiveness decreases. Apps like LINE are only fun when you have friends to share it with.

If you love the concept of LINE, go ahead and download it, and let it automatically comb through your contacts for individuals currently using LINE. That way, you’ll know exactly who to invite to share this platform with you.

Ultimately, LINE is a fantastic concept, and one that we hope to see more of in the future. If your friends aren’t on it, invite them. They’ll thank you for introducing them to the app that really can do almost anything social.

The post Line App review .. Who doesn’t need another line? appeared first on Hushed.

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