Related
XDA Smart Folks! I need crowd-source thinking on this. It's something that affects many many people, and will continue to for years to come. I've searched online high and low for answers to this, analyzed all sorts of potential scenarios for one simple purpose: cutting my landline service but holding keeping that phone number in my possession (maybe a year) until I decide where to go with it.
Here's my phone "ecosystem" right now:
(1) Landline home service which also carries my DSL service. I want to cut this service but find cheapest way to keep the number, to use to call forward to wherever I choose.
(2) I no longer need a landline phone, huge waste of money, and DSL can now be delivered via "dry loop"... whereby DSL provider supplies the phone line to you, using local phone company lines, routed to you strictly as data, which you have no responsibility for. The "dry loop" phone line is built into their monthly DSL price, but it is not in any way a phone # I access or use.
(3) T-mobile cell voice + unlimited internet/data plan for past 5 years, with HTC touchscreen phone, and a phone number I like.
(4) Several SKYPE-IN phone #s local to me
(5) and now a Google Voice # local to me.
(6) A Skype-to-go # I use just for calling international #s via a phone, vs via skype app on a computer. (You call your own Skype-to-go #, using any phone, cell or landline anywhere, then press speed-dials to connect to international land or mobile phones)
====================
MY PREFERRED SOLUTIONS, but not yet available, if at all:
====================
1. Port my about-to-be-disconnected landline # to replace my Google Voice #. This recent article from TechCrunch shows that it IS possible, just not yet available for "rank & file" GV users.
How I Learned To Quit The iPhone And Love Google Voice
Want to port your mobile number to Google Voice.... and do what I've done? Google Voice's Secret Weapon: Number Portability
It's an interesting quandary that, in order to port your number you need to ...Google Voice About to Get More Amazing By Letting You Port Your ...
Jun 14, 2009 ... That means you'll be able to port the phone numberGoogle Voice and use whatever phone you want, ... you've had for 5 or 10 or 100 years to Arrington Gets To Port Into Google Voice, When Do The Rest Of Us ...
Aug 10, 2009 ... Well, yesterday I read that Michael Arrington (a new adopter to Google Voice) of Techcrunch was able to port his numberGoogle Voice ... into
2. Port to my Skype-In # ... (Not a chance. Won't happen due to USA FCC rules)
3. Possibly add a 2nd line to my existing T-mo account, with a free no-feature phone, and use it just to forward calls to wherever I choose. Perhaps in a year Google Voice will have Number Portability by then. Downside: too costly
4. NOT cut off my local landline service, but convert it to a fax/data line, and, if possible, set up voice call-forwarding to whatever phone I actually want to ring when people dial my long-time #. Problem: I really despise my local provider for its domestic spying on all US citizens every phone call and web site in cooperation with Bush Administrations blatant disregard for laws. This is the primary reason I want to cut that tie completely -- an economic statement of principle.
5. Get a cheap pre-pay cell-phone plan that i use for no other reason than to preserve my # and use to call forward. But I don't know if consumers can port a number to a pre-paid plan in USA. Can they?
6. Use a "phone number parking service". I didn't know these existed til tonight. Like domain-name parking. But it's specifically for people in my shoes. You port your # to them, they forward your calls wherever you want, $10/month. Like here, and here.
7. Establish T-Mobile @ Home local service -- but I don't know if this sets you up with a separate phone # besides your cell line; I'm assuming no.
8. And finally: Let go of my current T-Mobile cell #, and just port my landline # to my cell account. The downside here is that it is an established contact #, I like it, and porting my landline # to it eliminates it.
What sayeth XDA-dev members?
UPDATE 1: NUMBER PORTABILITY - Ways to hold onto a number in between services
I've done some ruleouts since yesterday, which reduce the options:
• Port to my Skype-In # ... Eliminated. Not possible, per Skype support email.
• Possibly add 2nd line to my existing T-mo account, : Will cost me $20/month additional, by using a Family Plan additional one line. Not a good value at all. The price threshold to meet or beat is $10/month for actual phone service; or $5/month to "park your number"
5. Get a cheap pre-pay cell-phone plan (for example Tracfone or Virgin Mobile) that i use for no other reason than to preserve my # and use to call forward. But I don't know if consumers can port a number to a pre-paid plan in USA. Can they?
6. Use a "phone number parking service". This seems like the way to go -- unless T-Mobile wakes up with item 7 below. I didn't know these existed til tonight. Like domain-name parking. But it's specifically for people in my shoes. You port your # to them, they forward your calls wherever you want, $10/month. Like here, and here.
7. Establish T-Mobile @ Home local service -- ANSWERS: Yes, I can port my old landline # to a new T-Mobile @ Home VOIP account. HOWEVER, A REALLY STUPID PROBLEM -- T-MOBILE WON'T LET YOU PAY THEM an additional $10/month for this service, in some cases:
LISTEN UP T-MOBILE, or get hurt by stupidity: T-Mobile will not let customers sign up for this service -- and pay T-Mobile an additional revenue of $10/month -- unless the customer has a voice plan of $39.99 or over. I use my cell more for data than talk, so I have the $29.99 voice plan -- and so T-Mobile says "No, we will not take your money and make from you an additional $120/year in revenue, because you don't qualify to pay us $10/month." ... Nevermind that I have an additional Text messaging plan, and on top of that a "Total Internet and Unlimited Hotspot" data plan -- adding another $40/month I pay to them. Pure beancounter mentality vs Total Customer Relationship business mentality.
(10-1-09) Right now I have a call-back due from T-Mobile's CUSTOMER RETENTION department to let me know if they will let me pay them an additional $10/month to get the @Home VOIP phone service... If they don't, I may pack up my whole account with them and switch to Sprint or AT&T, simply due to beancounter insulting stupidity. Stay tuned for the answer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
====
Hey guys,
Wanted to show you a application i have been developing for the last few months.
Do you ever sit in a endless phone tree wondering if you'll ever get to talk to a human?
Dialfaster gives you the information you need to bypass phone trees.
Two applications exist on the marketplace UK and US Versions.
In the UK we have 700 phone numbers plus dialing shortcuts.
In the US we have 500 phone numbers plus dialing shortcuts.
Features Include:
Save phone numbers you use regularly as a favourite.
Call-Log logs all your calls made to companies, so you can keep a record of contacting them.
Quickly search through all companies to find the one you need.
Updates regularly, so you always have the most recent dialfaster database.
View more info at dialfaster.com/app/
Sorry but i am still unable to post links
Just search for "dialfaster" in the marketplace
I am guessing since the list comes from a thirdparty, it would be futile to ask for a Belgian version?
I could really use this for work =P
Hey,
Thanks for your reply, this info doesn't come from a 3rd party, I have been working on the database for about a year now.
We have a website as-well @ dialfaster.com which does the same thing but is desktop.
The information for the UK has taken me along time to build up, calling companies throughout the day, and trying to work out the quickest way to reach a human.
Sorry but at present, we don't offer a Belgian version, currently working on iPhone, and moving over to other countries, so we might be doing European countries some time in the near future, but thanks for your interest.
Shuze said:
Hey,
Thanks for your reply, this info doesn't come from a 3rd party, I have been working on the database for about a year now.
We have a website as-well @ dialfaster.com which does the same thing but is desktop.
The information for the UK has taken me along time to build up, calling companies throughout the day, and trying to work out the quickest way to reach a human.
Sorry but at present, we don't offer a Belgian version, currently working on iPhone, and moving over to other countries, so we might be doing European countries some time in the near future, but thanks for your interest.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright, Thanks for your reply.
I will point people I know online to that app.
In IT and most other Office work its a big hassle to go through the IVR menus all the time.
VoIP Phone System is one of the most widely used Avaya phone by most businesses to be able to contact people and businesses from different sides of the world in the most economical way. And since this phone system runs through the Internet, you don’t need any phone cable lines to get this working.
I work for a home security company and we install a lot of IP cameras. These cameras are available through alarm.com and they have a android app to control the cam. I've came across a few customers through cellularsoith and can't find theapp in their market or when I go to the website andscan the barecode it saysit isn't available.
So if I could just get the apk would I be able toinstall it on their phones and have then work
Sent from my HTC Hero CDMA using XDA App
What dealer are you with?
I work for Alarm.com and I thought I would chime in and answer your question. The reason some of your customers cannot see the app in the android marketplace is because their handsets have an older version of the OS. They must have v 1.6 or greater for it to show up in the marketplace. As you probably know if they have an older OS they can usually download an upgrade from the handset manufacturer. Just google their handset type and upgrade and you'll be up and running in no time.
If you have more questions about the apps or Alarm.com, give our tech support team a call at 866-834-0470.
Colin
Awesome, thanks for the knowledge. I figured that it had to do with their android version. Also when I try setting up text notifications for them on a desktop for their alarm, it has you select their service provider. Cellular south is not on the list, does it really matter which one I choose
We provide a list of the most common carriers our customers have. If their provider does not show up on that list, add it as an email address using the email address from the website below:
emailtextmessages(dotcom)
LG really is spying on us!
While figuring out how to access and download service informaion bulletins (SIB), software, notices, user manuals, etc., I downloaded an SIB which instructs LG staff and others "How to check the record of Web Downoad" which enables checking the customer "record of 'Web Download' in CSMG.". There are 6 categories which include: 1. S/W Download History, 2. S/W Error History, 3. Web S/W Download (Summary), 4. Web S/W Error D/L (Summary), 5. User Password Find History (ony Korea), 6. Web S/W Apps Upgrade History (only Korea). The PowePoint format instructions show how to use the LG CSMG utility to do it. Various informaion is used to specify the phone including: Country, Model, ESN, Phone No. Site Web, Site ID and Period (dates). It shows some example results which include the United states and the Republic of Korea. It also shows Web S/W Download and Web S/W Error History Statistics for various parameters including User Password (Korea only) as a bar chart for specific year, Region, Country, Model, Model_Buyer, B2C and B2B.
The direct download of the document from the LG server is:
http://csmg.lgmobile.com:9002/data/(SIB)How to check the record of Web Download_Global_Rev1.0.zip
Where did you find this? This would be fantastic for the devs so they can try to block it. A little seperation from big brother never killed anyone? At least not that I'm aware of.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA
This looks like a system to track which phones have downloaded upgraded firmware from LG, not a system that lets LG see everything you do with your phone. I'll let the experts confirm.
They should have a ball with what I've managed to make their firmware do. I turned it into a puppet. That can make the slightest thing throw you into sw
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
andrewNY said:
This looks like a system to track which phones have downloaded upgraded firmware from LG, not a system that lets LG see everything you do with your phone. I'll let the experts confirm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. The only thing I can think it really shows is how many people give a damn about the LG logo and its manufacturers. Once we buy this phone however, it's ours to do as we please. Not theirs to look over our shoulders.
andrewNY said:
This looks like a system to track which phones have downloaded upgraded firmware from LG, not a system that lets LG see everything you do with your phone. I'll let the experts confirm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LG uses their update software to gather information from a phone before and after the update which, for Koreans, includes their phone's password. No one willingly gave permission to LG to gather data from their phone so that's an invasion of privacy. LG has the ability to monitor, gather, and use whatever is stored on the phones they manufacture which, at this point, includes non-update information (phone's password). LG has the ESN/IMEI for every phone it manufactures which enables LG to find any phone anywhere in the world and monitor it, store the data, and use it. The same applies to every manufacturer of cell phones and to manufacturers of other devices which connect to the internet, wireless, etc., which have unique identification codes including IP and MAC addresses. There are many ways to use those id numbers to hack into cell phones, computers, etc. There's nothing stopping LG, any other company or government or organization or person from doing it if they have access to those numbers such as:
http://www.gsma.com/imei-database/
http://www.itworld.com/security/181313/how-hack-cell-phone-voice-mail-better-news-world
Need an unlock code for a phone I just got that was on cricket or some way I can unlock it, Galaxy A53, thanks.
did you get the unlock code
scottywnc said:
did you get the unlock code
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No guess no one knows how to unlock or get code, thanks. Problem with being old u get taken on some purchases on phones that u can't use.
scottywnc said:
did you get the unlock code
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am also in need of an unlock code for a cricket phone.... thNk you very much
Excerpt from here :
PrerequisitesCricket, like other carriers, has some prerequisites that you have to meet before you can request your phone to be unlocked.
The device you want to unlock has been active for at least six 6 months of paid service.
The device is designed for use on and is locked to Cricket’s network.
The device has not been reported lost or stolen. otherwise known as blacklisted.
The device is not associated with a fraudulent account; your account must also be in “good standing.”
Cricket is actually one of the few carriers that supports military personnel pretty well. The Cricket policy is that they will unlock one Cricket-based smartphone for a service member who doesn’t meet the requirements, but that person will have to provide deployment papers or other supporting documentation.
How to unlock a Cricket phoneCricket actually makes it fairly easy to get an unlock code, so long as you meet the necessary requirements. The steps to do it online, over at the Cricket website are:
Sign in, visit Account Settings and select Get Code.
Scroll down to locate the number of the phone or line you’d like to unlock.
Select Request Unlock.
The unlock code for eligible Android phones will automatically be displayed on screen, as well as texted to your phone, so long as you meet the requirements. The unlock process for eligible iPhone users is a little different, as they will receive their unlock code via text message the following business day.
You can also use the Cricket app to unlock your phone.
Download and ppen your myCricket app.
If you’re already signed into the app, make sure to sign out.
From there, you can tap Unlock Device on the app’s sign-in screen.
Tap Unlock at the bottom of the screen.
Once your phone is successfully unlocked, restart it to complete the process. Once restarted, you should be able to take your Cricket phone and use it on any other network, including international ones.
Like we mentioned, Cricket is one of the few carriers that support military members with excellent communication services. If you need an expedited unlock, here’s the official word from Cricket:
“If you’re in the military and need expedited unlocking prior to deployment, please call Customer Support at 1-800-CRICKET (1-800-274-2538) or dial 611 from your Cricket phone. We appreciate your service. “
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
xXx yYy said:
Excerpt from here :
PrerequisitesCricket, like other carriers, has some prerequisites that you have to meet before you can request your phone to be unlocked.
The device you want to unlock has been active for at least six 6 months of paid service.
The device is designed for use on and is locked to Cricket’s network.
The device has not been reported lost or stolen. otherwise known as blacklisted.
The device is not associated with a fraudulent account; your account must also be in “good standing.”
Cricket is actually one of the few carriers that supports military personnel pretty well. The Cricket policy is that they will unlock one Cricket-based smartphone for a service member who doesn’t meet the requirements, but that person will have to provide deployment papers or other supporting documentation.
How to unlock a Cricket phoneCricket actually makes it fairly easy to get an unlock code, so long as you meet the necessary requirements. The steps to do it online, over at the Cricket website are:
Sign in, visit Account Settings and select Get Code.
Scroll down to locate the number of the phone or line you’d like to unlock.
Select Request Unlock.
The unlock code for eligible Android phones will automatically be displayed on screen, as well as texted to your phone, so long as you meet the requirements. The unlock process for eligible iPhone users is a little different, as they will receive their unlock code via text message the following business day.
You can also use the Cricket app to unlock your phone.
Download and ppen your myCricket app.
If you’re already signed into the app, make sure to sign out.
From there, you can tap Unlock Device on the app’s sign-in screen.
Tap Unlock at the bottom of the screen.
Once your phone is successfully unlocked, restart it to complete the process. Once restarted, you should be able to take your Cricket phone and use it on any other network, including international ones.
Like we mentioned, Cricket is one of the few carriers that support military members with excellent communication services. If you need an expedited unlock, here’s the official word from Cricket:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, I already know all this, and the 6 mos is not met so that's why trying backdoor channel. Person I got it from said it was more than 6 mos but actually they had it more but only registered it 2. Now stuck unless I can unlock.
Does your device really ask for unlock code? Like when you put in a sim a prompt comes which requests you to enter an unlock pin?
Don't have anymore, sent back.