You can do the same thing with Google phone for free (except that you need a new email address every time)
and the phone number lasts longer than one call... I do do this when on craiglisting selling stuff. A different phone for each posting (stops getting calls 4 months later... "do you still have that thing?")
I would use this App if I were researching services, offers, mortgages, and when purchasing large ticket items in general.
Nothing more annoying than calling into a company, on your terms, to get quotes or questions answered.
You decide what you want to buy and from which company but for the next three months, you continue to receive calls from all the Other vendors, that did not win your business still trying to sell you.
Also,
Craigslist/newspaper ads are obvious, along with anytime you need to put your number in a public place, say trying to sell a car, house or items pinned at the supermarket wall.
... I do sometimes pick up just to see if maybe I can get off their list - but no - there isn't anyone there - if you are going to spend any amount of time or money - even if minuscule - shouldn't there be even an automated thing when I pick up?
Sorry to tell you, but the act of picking up the phone confirmed to them that there's a live body there and validated the purpose of the call.
Similar to the rule of never replying to questionable emails.
This is the phone equivalent of those 10-minute e-mail signup websites. The only use for those is TROLL ACCOUNTS ON FORUMS.
With the ability to make a phone number that lasts 20 minutes and 20 SMS, telemarketers and spammers can send as much crap as they want to as many people as they want and NOT GET PUNISHED because when you go to report the phone number to the Do Not Call list, it's not actually tied to anything, and so no one knows where it came from.
and the phone number lasts longer than one call... I do do this when on craiglisting selling stuff. A different phone for each posting (stops getting calls 4 months later... "do you still have that thing?")
A "burner" in the drug world is a separate "business" phone, usually a prepaid cellular, used for drug deal and other illicit activities that can be quickly disposed of "burned" to avoid leaving a trail. When I first saw the name of the app and what is what used for, I was surprised that Apple let it go thru with that name. Then again, they probably don't have many screeners who are familiar with the drug trade.
It's funny how quickly people took a negative view to this app!
I think the craigslist angle is great. We have a window we want to sell on craigslist and this will be great for that, for all the obvious reasons. It also isn't uncommon for my wife and I to meet people while on vacation and maybe have dinner or do something together with them. Having a disposable number will make these brief encounters easier as I don't like to give out my phone number even in normal situations.
Sure, it can used for "nefarious" purposes. Maybe we shouldn't have phones AT ALL since phones in general can be used for illegal activities. While we're at it, let's get rid of all modes of transportation (when I was in high school a kid used to sell marijuana from his bike), and maybe ban the Internet. And TV. The postal service.
Exactly!!
How is this any different than picking up a pre-paid phone or sim, it's just more convenient for people who might need this. And why does it have to be nefarious? Everything can be misused, why punish those who have a legitimate use for it. When I'm traveling, especially abroad, I have the need to give my number out everywhere I go, hotels, restaurants, businesses, people I meet, airlines, etc. by necessity I have to get a local number in France for instance. But the ability to burn that number at the end of my trip is amazing. Only the people I truly want to connect with then end up with a real way to contact me. There's nothing worse than Bernie the insurance salesman you met at that resort who you gave your number to to get him off your back continuing to call you for the rest of your life forgetting the 3 hour time difference in the process. Heck sometimes I give these people a fake name, To ensure they can't track me down later, but that doesn't mean I'm selling drugs.
Google Voice acheives this at no cost with even more features like voice mail sent to ones's email address and people who call to harrass can be blocked.
A "burner" in the drug world is a separate "business" phone, usually a prepaid cellular, used for drug deal and other illicit activities that can be quickly disposed of "burned" to avoid leaving a trail. When I first saw the name of the app and what is what used for, I was surprised that Apple let it go thru with that name. Then again, they probably don't have many screeners who are familiar with the drug trade.
Not just drugs, anyone wanting to maintain more anonymity. Watch any police procedural on TV. Yes a lot are drug related, but certainly not all. Katie Holmes used 3 different burner phones when she was working up to leaving Tom Cruise so she could setup her lawyers and such w/o his knowing. There are legitimate uses.
We used Edmunds a few weeks ago to send out requests to car dealers for Internet pricing quotes. 30 hours later we had purchased our car from the dealer with the lowest quote, but we are still getting calls from many of the other dealers (they can't seem to take no for an answer). This app would have been perfect for our situation.
You know you can delete an ad off of Craigslist when you sell it... right?
also- when I use my Google Voice number for CL, I say you can call or text.
I rarely get calls, I get texts though.
After I delete the ad, I might get a couple of texts for a week due to scraper sites that pick up my ad from CL and then republish it, but that is about it.
plus if someone is an asshat I can block them.
plus it is free.
The pool of numbers that BURNER has will eventually get used up and then debt collectors will be hounding each one of them.
I just "added a line" to our U-Verse account and it IMMEDIATELY began receiving robocalls from debt collectors, fortunately I could block them.
What happens down the line when you pay your $1.99 to get a "new" burner number only to find that you immediately start getting texts and calls from robodialers?
This app will most likely be used for impropriety and who knows how many other destructive things. I can see benefits to it if it is being used without malice. I doubt there will be much use of the app that doesn't involve something shady.
Oh... and give me an app that will allow me to blacklist certain calls and texts. That would be useful.
An app wouldn't be able to do anything; just build it into the OS. Screw what the telecoms want us to do. If I want to block a number, I get to block a number. For free. And as many as I want to block.
Comments
Some might, but they wouldn't be very smart to do so. Probably the kind of dealer who'd believe a photocopier was a lie detector.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quadra 610
The question is, McFly, whether she's going to give you her real number.
Probably not heh. Not a big deal
Quote:
Originally Posted by rsdofny
You can do the same thing with Google phone for free (except that you need a new email address every time)
and the phone number lasts longer than one call... I do do this when on craiglisting selling stuff. A different phone for each posting (stops getting calls 4 months later... "do you still have that thing?")
I would use this App if I were researching services, offers, mortgages, and when purchasing large ticket items in general.
Nothing more annoying than calling into a company, on your terms, to get quotes or questions answered.
You decide what you want to buy and from which company but for the next three months, you continue to receive calls from all the Other vendors, that did not win your business still trying to sell you.
Also,
Craigslist/newspaper ads are obvious, along with anytime you need to put your number in a public place, say trying to sell a car, house or items pinned at the supermarket wall.
This App can be very useful.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOtherGeoff
stops getting calls 4 months later... "do you still have that thing?"
You know you can delete an ad off of Craigslist when you sell it... right?
Quote:
Originally Posted by lilgto64
... I do sometimes pick up just to see if maybe I can get off their list - but no - there isn't anyone there - if you are going to spend any amount of time or money - even if minuscule - shouldn't there be even an automated thing when I pick up?
Sorry to tell you, but the act of picking up the phone confirmed to them that there's a live body there and validated the purpose of the call.
Similar to the rule of never replying to questionable emails.
I hate this so much.
I hate this so much.
I hate this so much.
I hate this so much.
I hate this so much.
I hate this so much.
I typed out each of those.
This is the phone equivalent of those 10-minute e-mail signup websites. The only use for those is TROLL ACCOUNTS ON FORUMS.
With the ability to make a phone number that lasts 20 minutes and 20 SMS, telemarketers and spammers can send as much crap as they want to as many people as they want and NOT GET PUNISHED because when you go to report the phone number to the Do Not Call list, it's not actually tied to anything, and so no one knows where it came from.
Our friends at Credit Card Services should love this.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOtherGeoff
and the phone number lasts longer than one call... I do do this when on craiglisting selling stuff. A different phone for each posting (stops getting calls 4 months later... "do you still have that thing?")
Sorry, already sold the kidney.
A "burner" in the drug world is a separate "business" phone, usually a prepaid cellular, used for drug deal and other illicit activities that can be quickly disposed of "burned" to avoid leaving a trail. When I first saw the name of the app and what is what used for, I was surprised that Apple let it go thru with that name. Then again, they probably don't have many screeners who are familiar with the drug trade.
Exactly!!
How is this any different than picking up a pre-paid phone or sim, it's just more convenient for people who might need this. And why does it have to be nefarious? Everything can be misused, why punish those who have a legitimate use for it. When I'm traveling, especially abroad, I have the need to give my number out everywhere I go, hotels, restaurants, businesses, people I meet, airlines, etc. by necessity I have to get a local number in France for instance. But the ability to burn that number at the end of my trip is amazing. Only the people I truly want to connect with then end up with a real way to contact me. There's nothing worse than Bernie the insurance salesman you met at that resort who you gave your number to to get him off your back continuing to call you for the rest of your life forgetting the 3 hour time difference in the process. Heck sometimes I give these people a fake name, To ensure they can't track me down later, but that doesn't mean I'm selling drugs.
Google Voice acheives this at no cost with even more features like voice mail sent to ones's email address and people who call to harrass can be blocked.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ffurillo
A "burner" in the drug world is a separate "business" phone, usually a prepaid cellular, used for drug deal and other illicit activities that can be quickly disposed of "burned" to avoid leaving a trail. When I first saw the name of the app and what is what used for, I was surprised that Apple let it go thru with that name. Then again, they probably don't have many screeners who are familiar with the drug trade.
Not just drugs, anyone wanting to maintain more anonymity. Watch any police procedural on TV. Yes a lot are drug related, but certainly not all. Katie Holmes used 3 different burner phones when she was working up to leaving Tom Cruise so she could setup her lawyers and such w/o his knowing. There are legitimate uses.
Absolutely brilliant, Hopefully it works for Facebook. #BrokeSwag
We used Edmunds a few weeks ago to send out requests to car dealers for Internet pricing quotes. 30 hours later we had purchased our car from the dealer with the lowest quote, but we are still getting calls from many of the other dealers (they can't seem to take no for an answer). This app would have been perfect for our situation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by studiomusic
You know you can delete an ad off of Craigslist when you sell it... right?
also- when I use my Google Voice number for CL, I say you can call or text.
I rarely get calls, I get texts though.
After I delete the ad, I might get a couple of texts for a week due to scraper sites that pick up my ad from CL and then republish it, but that is about it.
plus if someone is an asshat I can block them.
plus it is free.
The pool of numbers that BURNER has will eventually get used up and then debt collectors will be hounding each one of them.
I just "added a line" to our U-Verse account and it IMMEDIATELY began receiving robocalls from debt collectors, fortunately I could block them.
What happens down the line when you pay your $1.99 to get a "new" burner number only to find that you immediately start getting texts and calls from robodialers?
This app will most likely be used for impropriety and who knows how many other destructive things. I can see benefits to it if it is being used without malice. I doubt there will be much use of the app that doesn't involve something shady.
Oh... and give me an app that will allow me to blacklist certain calls and texts. That would be useful.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SSquirrel
Probably not heh. Not a big deal
Doesn't matter. I was just messin.
Originally Posted by Alexmit
Oh... and give me an app that will allow me to blacklist certain calls and texts. That would be useful.
An app wouldn't be able to do anything; just build it into the OS. Screw what the telecoms want us to do. If I want to block a number, I get to block a number. For free. And as many as I want to block.