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Is it possible to go sans cell phone? I ditched the land line about 17 years ago. I'm now wondering, in an age where land lines and email is obsolete, a cell p

Is it possible to go sans cell phone? I ditched the land line about 17 years ago. I'm now wondering, in an age where land lines and email is obsolete, a cell phone number is also obsolete because of so many other available forms of communication. With just a google voice (or similar) number it might be possible. I just need a connected device that I can use to receive those 2-factor access codes, but other than that I am down to ditch my cell phone at this point.

dredmorbius 10y ago
I've pretty much gone this route, though with a few caveats. I've got a tablet, WiFi only. It's possible for that to be used for various messaging and email, where necessary (though email is also badly polluted, and a sufficient surveillance / profiling / security risk I've all but abandoned it as well). A 4GL hotspot extends the tablet onto wireless services when needed. There's voice chat systems. I've used Google's, which is good, though I usually remain logged out of that, simply because I hugely dislike any distractions. I'm leaning to the idea that Google, Skype, and Apple iChat simply bite the bullet and interconnect. At this point they could take down the existing POTS and Mobile service in another few years. I've a fallback phone message service through an organisation I've been associated with for some time. Absolutely crucial messages can come through that, though I don't make it easy. The result is an exceptionally high level of nondistraction.
- trothamel 10y ago
  Offhand, do you know what you'd do in the case where someone would call 911? (Or whatever the local equivalent is?) That's one of the benefits of the POTS and Cell networks that the various IP-only services have yet to provide. I'm just curious as to if you do without, or have a deactivated cell phone or something like that that you use instead.
  - dredmorbius 10y ago
    A no-service phone can still make 9-1-1 calls in the US, it's a legal requirement. Many other nations have similar requirements. Free-riding off the target-rich environment of available phones is another option. I've made precisely one true emergency request call in my life, and that was when employed in a safety-supporting role. I've used emergency phone services on other occasions, but in those cases, the situation was either not life-threatening, others had reported the event, or the involved party was already clearly dead. And if I need a burner (trip/travel), I can pick one up / refill an otherwise unused phone for a few euros.
dave2000 10y ago
You can get offline authentication apps which work around the world, unlike services which require cell phone coverage.

dredmorbius 10y ago

I've pretty much gone this route, though with a few caveats. I've got a tablet, WiFi only. It's possible for that to be used for various messaging and email, where necessary (though email is also badly polluted, and a sufficient surveillance / profiling / security risk I've all but abandoned it as well). A 4GL hotspot extends the tablet onto wireless services when needed. There's voice chat systems. I've used Google's, which is good, though I usually remain logged out of that, simply because I hugely dislike any distractions. I'm leaning to the idea that Google, Skype, and Apple iChat simply bite the bullet and interconnect. At this point they could take down the existing POTS and Mobile service in another few years. I've a fallback phone message service through an organisation I've been associated with for some time. Absolutely crucial messages can come through that, though I don't make it easy. The result is an exceptionally high level of nondistraction.

trothamel 10y ago
Offhand, do you know what you'd do in the case where someone would call 911? (Or whatever the local equivalent is?) That's one of the benefits of the POTS and Cell networks that the various IP-only services have yet to provide. I'm just curious as to if you do without, or have a deactivated cell phone or something like that that you use instead.
- dredmorbius 10y ago
  A no-service phone can still make 9-1-1 calls in the US, it's a legal requirement. Many other nations have similar requirements. Free-riding off the target-rich environment of available phones is another option. I've made precisely one true emergency request call in my life, and that was when employed in a safety-supporting role. I've used emergency phone services on other occasions, but in those cases, the situation was either not life-threatening, others had reported the event, or the involved party was already clearly dead. And if I need a burner (trip/travel), I can pick one up / refill an otherwise unused phone for a few euros.

dave2000 10y ago

You can get offline authentication apps which work around the world, unlike services which require cell phone coverage.