6 ms·

My wife and I cancelled our phone services a while back to save money since we rarely if ever have to call anyone and just use messaging to keep in touch with e

My wife and I cancelled our phone services a while back to save money since we rarely if ever have to call anyone and just use messaging to keep in touch with each other and friends. What are people like us supposed to do? I do have a Google voice number, but I noticed one or two places recently that won't accept that anymore.

H1Supreme 8y ago
> I do have a Google voice number, but I noticed one or two places recently that won't accept that anymore. Mind sharing where? I've use my Google Voice number exclusively for 6 or 7 years now. Can't say I've ever ran into such a thing.
- rdbell 8y ago
  Craigslist is one recent example that I came across.
  - throwaway5r09 8y ago
    Another is Credit Karma. And others have said Zelle no longer allows it. Would love if someone made a list so those that have moved to VoIP wouldn’t need to waste time.
- echelon 8y ago
  Tinder won't accept Google Voice numbers. That kept me off their platform for years.
- packet_nerd 8y ago
  I don't remember honestly, but I was looking for a site to do my taxes when I saw the last one. I didn't finish signing up. It mentioned not supporting "voice over IP" numbers, or something to that effect. I wish I'd taken a screenshot.
- eeeeeeeeeeeee 8y ago
  It’s happened to me a few times with my Gvoice number. Which is really annoying because this is why I use it. It usually gives no specific information about why it failed, but then I use my main mobile number and it works fine.
  - xur17 8y ago
    It used to happen for me on Telegram (I think it's been fixed within the last year though), and recently a startup (Mealplan) blocked it because it's a "voip" number. I even tried emailing and explaining, but they just said they don't support it.
- brownbat 8y ago
  Sites that require phone number verification often block numbers allocated for VoIP services for fear of spammers. YMMV if you've tethered your GV number to a physical device at some point. I've run into this semi-frequently over the years, and it's always extremely frustrating when it happens, but somehow I can't remember exactly where either. Old references online point to Facebook, Line, and Snapchat: https://www.reddit.com/r/Googlevoice/comments/3uv3mt/google_voice_number_invalid_on_facebook/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Googlevoice/comments/3uv3mt/google_...
  - elektor 8y ago
    I can back this claim up. I was unable to verify my Citi credit card over the phone using my Google Voice number, they insisted on a non-VoIP number which ultimately delayed the verification process by a week.
  - o10449366 8y ago
    FWIW I may have just signed up at the right time, but both my Facebook and Snapchat are tied to my GV number and I've never had any issues.
- crummy 8y ago
  WhatsApp.
- Sylamore 8y ago
  Microsoft won't take any known voip account for an Azure registration, which created a minor challenge for me as all my numbers are google voice only as well.
criddell 8y ago
If there are enough people like you, I'm sure they'll find some way to accommodate you. Maybe they will accept a scan of your passport or ask for a bank account number or some other piece of data that makes it at least a tiny bit harder to open an account.
- hombre_fatal 8y ago
  > Maybe they will accept a scan of your passport It won't be long before https://haveibeenpwned.com/ https://haveibeenpwned.com/ will let you type in your driver's license or passport number and tell you if a scan of it has been leaked.
- packet_nerd 8y ago
  There has got to be a better way to do online identity as a society! The most promising ideas I've heard about are WebAuthn and Estonia's digital identity system. How long is it going to take to get out of the dark ages and get this right? One thing I'm sure of, uploading a scan of my passport to every website is not an appealing thought. Besides the inconvenience, do I really want my passport spread around on dozens/hundreds of different high-value servers run by who-knows-who?
  - baroffoos 8y ago
    There isn't any good way to maintain perfect privacy while also rejecting bots/trolls with 20 accounts.
    - packet_nerd 8y ago
      Here's an idea that I thought of.. Suppose WebAuthn was the standard authentication scheme everywhere. People used a series of tokens (Yubikeys, phone apps, etc.) with private keys which they use to authenticate to services. The government runs a department where you present them proof of your identity and the public keys from your Yubikeys/whatever, and they would publish a cryptographically signed electronic message which read the equivalent of "the owner of the private keys associated with public keys a, b, and c is a real person"). Then, when you signed up for an account at Twitter, or wherever, they could quickly check that published list and know that you where a real person. Advantages, you own your own private keys and completely manage your online identity. The government doesn't have any control over where you log in, or who you sign up for accounts with. Also, you can remain anonymous to the site you sign up to. They can check that you're a real person and only signed up once, without actually knowing your real name or other details.
MiddleEndian 8y ago
If I weren't so attached to my number I'd probably ditch phone service too. Do you have issues with Google Voice needing another phone number?
- packet_nerd 8y ago
  Haven't so far, but I know a real number is required to sign up, so who knows how long it will work..
Carpetsmoker 8y ago
I have a prepaid account, which is basically free after the initial investment, which is usually just a few €/$/£/etc. If you're careful enough it can also be reasonably anonymous.
- seppin 8y ago
  there is no real prepaid in the US, the closest is USMoble which is still around 20 US a month
  - rehemiau 8y ago
    "Land of the free"
  - warp 8y ago
    t-mobile has a USD 3/month pay-as-you-go plan. (I don't live in the US, but keep a T-mobile sim card active for when I travel there).
- packet_nerd 8y ago
  > reasonably anonymous The signup process has always been quite invasive for me. Is it possible get a phone in the states without handing over your SS, name, and DoB? I've never tried; what happens if you give bogus info?
  - acct1771 8y ago
    Prepaid cards..?
  - Carpetsmoker 8y ago
    I don't know about the United States as I've not been, but in every other country I've gotten a SIM it's been a matter of picking it up and the store and handing over money, same as if you're buying, say, deodrant. You can top up money anonymously too by buying prepaid vouchers. I've certainly never had to hand over stuff like social security number (wtf?), but perhaps laws and/or telcos are different in U.S.

H1Supreme 8y ago

> I do have a Google voice number, but I noticed one or two places recently that won't accept that anymore. Mind sharing where? I've use my Google Voice number exclusively for 6 or 7 years now. Can't say I've ever ran into such a thing.

rdbell 8y ago
Craigslist is one recent example that I came across.
- throwaway5r09 8y ago
  Another is Credit Karma. And others have said Zelle no longer allows it. Would love if someone made a list so those that have moved to VoIP wouldn’t need to waste time.
echelon 8y ago
Tinder won't accept Google Voice numbers. That kept me off their platform for years.
packet_nerd 8y ago
I don't remember honestly, but I was looking for a site to do my taxes when I saw the last one. I didn't finish signing up. It mentioned not supporting "voice over IP" numbers, or something to that effect. I wish I'd taken a screenshot.
eeeeeeeeeeeee 8y ago
It’s happened to me a few times with my Gvoice number. Which is really annoying because this is why I use it. It usually gives no specific information about why it failed, but then I use my main mobile number and it works fine.
- xur17 8y ago
  It used to happen for me on Telegram (I think it's been fixed within the last year though), and recently a startup (Mealplan) blocked it because it's a "voip" number. I even tried emailing and explaining, but they just said they don't support it.
brownbat 8y ago
Sites that require phone number verification often block numbers allocated for VoIP services for fear of spammers. YMMV if you've tethered your GV number to a physical device at some point. I've run into this semi-frequently over the years, and it's always extremely frustrating when it happens, but somehow I can't remember exactly where either. Old references online point to Facebook, Line, and Snapchat: https://www.reddit.com/r/Googlevoice/comments/3uv3mt/google_voice_number_invalid_on_facebook/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Googlevoice/comments/3uv3mt/google_...
- elektor 8y ago
  I can back this claim up. I was unable to verify my Citi credit card over the phone using my Google Voice number, they insisted on a non-VoIP number which ultimately delayed the verification process by a week.
- o10449366 8y ago
  FWIW I may have just signed up at the right time, but both my Facebook and Snapchat are tied to my GV number and I've never had any issues.
crummy 8y ago
WhatsApp.
Sylamore 8y ago
Microsoft won't take any known voip account for an Azure registration, which created a minor challenge for me as all my numbers are google voice only as well.

criddell 8y ago

If there are enough people like you, I'm sure they'll find some way to accommodate you. Maybe they will accept a scan of your passport or ask for a bank account number or some other piece of data that makes it at least a tiny bit harder to open an account.

hombre_fatal 8y ago
> Maybe they will accept a scan of your passport It won't be long before https://haveibeenpwned.com/ https://haveibeenpwned.com/ will let you type in your driver's license or passport number and tell you if a scan of it has been leaked.
packet_nerd 8y ago
There has got to be a better way to do online identity as a society! The most promising ideas I've heard about are WebAuthn and Estonia's digital identity system. How long is it going to take to get out of the dark ages and get this right? One thing I'm sure of, uploading a scan of my passport to every website is not an appealing thought. Besides the inconvenience, do I really want my passport spread around on dozens/hundreds of different high-value servers run by who-knows-who?
- baroffoos 8y ago
  There isn't any good way to maintain perfect privacy while also rejecting bots/trolls with 20 accounts.
  - packet_nerd 8y ago
    Here's an idea that I thought of.. Suppose WebAuthn was the standard authentication scheme everywhere. People used a series of tokens (Yubikeys, phone apps, etc.) with private keys which they use to authenticate to services. The government runs a department where you present them proof of your identity and the public keys from your Yubikeys/whatever, and they would publish a cryptographically signed electronic message which read the equivalent of "the owner of the private keys associated with public keys a, b, and c is a real person"). Then, when you signed up for an account at Twitter, or wherever, they could quickly check that published list and know that you where a real person. Advantages, you own your own private keys and completely manage your online identity. The government doesn't have any control over where you log in, or who you sign up for accounts with. Also, you can remain anonymous to the site you sign up to. They can check that you're a real person and only signed up once, without actually knowing your real name or other details.

MiddleEndian 8y ago

If I weren't so attached to my number I'd probably ditch phone service too. Do you have issues with Google Voice needing another phone number?

packet_nerd 8y ago
Haven't so far, but I know a real number is required to sign up, so who knows how long it will work..

Carpetsmoker 8y ago

I have a prepaid account, which is basically free after the initial investment, which is usually just a few €/$/£/etc. If you're careful enough it can also be reasonably anonymous.

seppin 8y ago
there is no real prepaid in the US, the closest is USMoble which is still around 20 US a month
- rehemiau 8y ago
  "Land of the free"
- warp 8y ago
  t-mobile has a USD 3/month pay-as-you-go plan. (I don't live in the US, but keep a T-mobile sim card active for when I travel there).
packet_nerd 8y ago
> reasonably anonymous The signup process has always been quite invasive for me. Is it possible get a phone in the states without handing over your SS, name, and DoB? I've never tried; what happens if you give bogus info?
- acct1771 8y ago
  Prepaid cards..?
- Carpetsmoker 8y ago
  I don't know about the United States as I've not been, but in every other country I've gotten a SIM it's been a matter of picking it up and the store and handing over money, same as if you're buying, say, deodrant. You can top up money anonymously too by buying prepaid vouchers. I've certainly never had to hand over stuff like social security number (wtf?), but perhaps laws and/or telcos are different in U.S.