cheapest cell phone for hobby

[Cinema Face]

Instead of a secret cell phone for hobbying, how about one of those dual sim cell phones? I think that would be more discrete.

You can enable/disable the second sim which is used only for hobbying. The SO need never know that the phone has a second sim.

 

[esoterica]

The point is not whether it is cheap or not, for me the issue is it private or not? 7 11 is completely untrceable, particularly if you buy it with cash. wish it had passwrod protection though.

The 7-11 phone is crappy. You can get an ok phone on ebay, or a PAYGo at Future Shop for $80. Get it unlocked for $20. Quad band, unlocked, password protected, etc.

If you want a good reason for owning it, tell the missus that you bought it to avoid roaming charges in the US. You can buy a cheap US SIM (T-mobile or AT&T) for a few bucks on ebay and have it setup with a fake address.

 

[esoterica]

Instead of a secret cell phone for hobbying, how about one of those dual sim cell phones? I think that would be more discrete.

You can enable/disable the second sim which is used only for hobbying. The SO need never know that the phone has a second sim.

The dual SIM card adapters work well but they cannot easily be used in some of the more esoteric phones, like the iPhone. The ones with a dual SIM compartment are hard to tether, and the strap on the card which goes to the SIM slot has to be in the correct orientation or it won't insert. Luckily, they are cheap on ebay.

The two-in-one SIM adapters need you to cut both of your SIM cards, which is scarier than it sounds. Do NOT use the SIM card cloners. They are old technology and erase your original card.

Want a legit reason for a second phone? If you travel a lot for work, say that you keep a second phone with a T-mobile card in it for private use in the US to avoid roaming charges. Keep a 7-11 card to slip in it when not in the US.

 

[nofrill]

I also have a 7-11 phone for hobbying.

The rate is fine. The calls are fine.

The major problem, however, is that many agencies and indies do not take calls from private numbers / no caller ID phones. In many cases, I made the first call from the motel and give them my no-caller-ID cellphone number, so that (hopefully) the next time they would recognize my phone number and answer.

 

[fearnoevil2005]

I just bought a speakout phone. It looks like the instructions requires me to call a 1-866 number from a landline and activate it with the given store # and activation code. How did you guys deal with this part? It seems that some posters in an old 7/11 thread said that no activation is required. Some posters here say it's untraceable. I don't see how these statements could be true, what am I missing here, fill me in on the details please.

 

[alex52]

I just bought a speakout phone. It looks like the instructions requires me to call a 1-866 number from a landline and activate it with the given store # and activation code. How did you guys deal with this part? It seems that some posters in an old 7/11 thread said that no activation is required. Some posters here say it's untraceable. I don't see how these statements could be true, what am I missing here, fill me in on the details please.

Activation is required. Its automated takes 30 secs.

 

[fearnoevil2005]

Activation is required. Its automated takes 30 secs.

I suppose most people use their home phone to do this? It does take the 'untraceable' assumption out of the equation doesn't it?

 

[69suds]

looking for one, any recommendations?

I have been asked by SP's this very question. I have always suggested purchasing a FIDO prepaid phone ($55-70). They have a plan which $1.00/day for unlimited incoming calls and voice mail and network fee is included. If they make out going calls then it is $0.30/minute.

I have also noticed that FIDO now has a $40 plan for 1,000 anytime minutes. The voicemail and network fees are included.

 

[Powershot]

I do the $100 a year rogers pay as you go.. last year used about half of it and it rolled over (renewed a day before it reached a year).

 

[Mineshaft]

I just bought a speakout phone. It looks like the instructions requires me to call a 1-866 number from a landline and activate it with the given store # and activation code. How did you guys deal with this part? It seems that some posters in an old 7/11 thread said that no activation is required. Some posters here say it's untraceable. I don't see how these statements could be true, what am I missing here, fill me in on the details please.

Phone from a friend's place. Use a public phone on the street (if you can still find one). Use a phone from a business or hotel.

 

[mandrill]

Do these phones operate in other countries? For example, if I pick up a 7-11 phone and use it in the UK?

Is the 7-11 phone "untraceable" and without caller ID? If so, I agree that it would be difficult to use to arrange escorts with.

 

[amir777]

Do these phones operate in other countries? For example, if I pick up a 7-11 phone and use it in the UK?
Is the 7-11 phone "untraceable" and without caller ID? If so, I agree that it would be difficult to use to arrange escorts with.

Do all of these 7-11 phones show up as PRIVATE CALL or just CELLULAR CALL? Guess I was going to get one but then if SP's don't pick up then that would definitely suck.

 

[mrsmithca]

I'm now thinking of getting one of these as a second phone. Does anyone know if employers who provide corporate Blackberries get access to the list of calls we make, or do they just get a general report showing phone/data/email useage?

If you are on a Corp BB plan with the device getting your company e-mail your company can see everything all text message/numbers dailed/websites visited they see it all through the auditing tools on the BB server (BES). If your device is not connected to your company e-mail but they still get the bill then all dailed number are shown and the duration of the call, they don't see the text message but do see how many were sent and received.

Bottom line never use a corp device for this hobby it exposes you way too much.

 

[Wallstreet]

you dont need to go out and buy another cell phone for hobbying. i know a desktop computer program that does all that and even assigns you a local 647 number. it even lets you redirect calls so when they call the program 647 number it gets redirected to your real cell phone but you never give out your real cell #

PM for link

 

[WoodPeckr]

you dont need to go out and buy another cell phone for hobbying. i know a desktop computer program that does all that and even assigns you a local 647 number.

Skype does the same and works very well.

 

[Wallstreet]

Skype does the same and works very well.

skype costs money. this is a completely free service..

 

[roger20]

skype costs money. this is a completely free service..

Why be secretive? Just post the link!

 

[Wallstreet]

Why be secretive? Just post the link!

pm me.

trust me, if too many people know about this service they are 100% going to start charging for it. and i want this to remain free.