Privacy

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Looking for a VOIP service to replace Google Fi (lemmy.ml)

submitted 5 months ago by jjlinux@lemmy.ml to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

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This may end up being a bit convoluted, so I will do my best to keep it as short as possible and to the point.

I have a US number with Google Fi, have had it for about 8 years.

This is the only reason why I still maintain that one Google account. The benefit is that I only use it when I am in the United States, and when I'm not, I just pause the service and don't get charged.

However, I feel the string need to completely eliminate Google from my life permanently.

Does anyone know of a service similar to this one? It can be an MVNO or VOIP for my phone, and I would like to port my number as well. I found "phoner", but I can't pause the service, so I would be stuck paying a bill I don't use as much or loosing my number.

If the service is private (not to be confused with anonymous, of course) even better.

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[–] adespoton@lemmy.ca 9 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I guess my suggestion wouldn’t be useful then… I was a GrandCentral customer in 2006. When Google bought them I became a Google Voice customer and still am. It’s been convenient to have the same US numbers for 18 years. I wouldn’t run anything private through the service though.

[–] mox@lemmy.sdf.org 9 points 5 months ago (1 children)

FYI, you can port your number to another provider. No need to stay with Google just for that.

[–] jjlinux@lemmy.ml 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

The main issue here seems to be that no other provider, voip or otherwise, allows to pause the invoicing. Fi allows it for 90 days, and if those 90 days go by, all we have to do is pause it again and get charged for the 1 day that the pause expired on.

It's a pretty hard to beat feature, but I really want off of Google, so I'm going over every single one of the suggestions here.

[–] mox@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

The main issue here seems to be that no other provider, voip or otherwise, allows to pause the invoicing.

The comment you just replied to was a response to someone else, presumably in a situation different to yours.

Regarding number parking / invoice pausing, please see my other comment. I have updated it with more info.

[–] jjlinux@lemmy.ml 1 points 5 months ago

I'm very sorry, I didn't see that

About parking, you might be right. I'm researching all the great options so many of you provided. jmp.chat looks like a really good option.