I see ads all the time for shit like consumer Cellular, mint mobile, stuff that rents time on Verizon towers and sells you a plan for like half the price.

I’m trying real hard to de-Xfinity myself but the cellular plan is the cheapest of all the major companies. Yes, I know they also piggyback off the Verizon network, but at least they have 24/7 support

  • pelletbucket@lemm.eeOP
    2·
    6 months ago

    yeah I’ve been doing that, only my alarm company and my bank have my real phone number and that’s only because they won’t accept voip. I got spooked about sim-swapping a while ago

    • jet@hackertalks.comEnglish
      1·
      6 months ago

      You can use Google fi as a non-voip voip number. It just costs $20 a month.

      It’s not frugal, but it’s the most secure way to do it

      • pelletbucket@lemm.eeOP
        1·
        6 months ago

        what exactly is Google Fi? I’m reading the website and I still don’t understand. are they a cell carrier?

        • jet@hackertalks.comEnglish
          2·
          6 months ago

          Mvno. Mobile virtual network operator.

          It’s like Google voice, but you also get a SIM card and data with it.

          The phone number you have on it, does not show up as a VoIP number, shows up as a normal mobile number. Even if you only access it via messenger and not via SMS.

          • NaN@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
            2·
            6 months ago

            I used them for a while but it’s really worth considering the full privacy implications of using Google for cell service. Also, since it’s tied to a Google account if that account is suspended for any reason, like a YouTube comment or some file uploaded to drive that they don’t like, your cell service is also affected.