Ditching the "phone"

Yeah I'm thinking of ditching my mobile for voice calls.

No, I'm not getting rid of the physical device I carry around, but I want to go to a strict data+texting plan on it (tablet plan) with no voice functionality AT ALL. Like, I want people to get a "your call cannot be completed" message if they try to voice-call my texting number.

So for the occasional time I actually DO need to call out, I'm looking into VOIP services. Google Hangouts is nice in theory but you apparently can't make voice calls from the Android app, and I've only managed to get the microphone-enabler-browser-plugin to work on one browser, on one of my laptops (and not the Macbook that I usually lug around everywhere.)

Skype also works in theory but Google is free to most North American numbers. Skype wants money to call just about everything.

Basically I need a nice VOIP that works on (ancient ... 2.3) Android+Linux+Mac and maybe has texting-over-internet (why is this so hard to do???) in case I can't get a tablet plan with good texting. I don't necessarily need a number that people can call me on. Any recommendations for me?

Could you make calls from WhatsApp?

Are you willing to update your mobile device? A newer 4.0+ Android device will be able to run all the apps so you could find one you like. I use Google voice.

I'll just say this. We have friends that refuse to take a voice call. They return voice calls (almost while it's ringing) with a text that says "what's up?"
I don't call them anymore. If a text required more than 6 words, it should be a phone call.
Maybe I'm just old.

nokincy wrote: Are you willing to update your mobile device? A newer 4.0+ Android device will be able to run all the apps so you could find one you like. I use Google voice.

Yeah, probably. :P I love my Droid 3 from 2011 to death but man it's getting flakey lately. I just saw "Google Hangouts Dialler" is a separate app from "Google Hangouts" and only runs on 4.0+. Can it send SMSes? That would solve all my problems.

Project Fi offers a data only plan. You need a Nexus device and an invitation though.

Hangouts dialer will do voice service and operates independent of normal hangouts. I think the only thing you'd lose is actual SMS.

FWIW I switched both phones to Project Fi and couldn't be happier. Which is an extreme rarity for cellphone providers.

In reply to Jay:

In reply to DrBoost:

I'll bet they're young like under 30.

I remember research from about 2010 when I was still in the phone business...

College age students were asked, "in what instance would you make a call rather than text?"
The answer was, "only if it's an emergency."
The logic was that a text is a request for conversion and engagement but a ringing phone is a DEMAND for conversation and engagement.

You don't know what the caller wants until you answer but the text usually gives you an idea what they want before you have to acknowledge that you've gotten the message.

Try asking the same question to people you know under 30.

In reply to Jay:

Have you checked if you can CyanogenMod it? That might well take care of the old Android - I'd be wary of running old versions with all the security issues found.

I use FaceTime audio whenever possible. I know, limited to people in the iBorg world, but the voice quality is about 100x better than a call.

I find this topic fascinating, and immensely confusing. I'm 55.

I'm well over 30 and I'm finding I'd rather text more than talk now. I never thought I would be this way lol.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.freedompop.ott

FreedomPop supposedly does what you want.

My brief experience with them was overwhelmingly negative due to abysmal customer support.

DrBoost wrote: I'll just say this. We have friends that refuse to take a voice call. They return voice calls (almost while it's ringing) with a text that says "what's up?" I don't call them anymore. If a text required more than 6 words, it should be a phone call. Maybe I'm just old.

i hate those people... a 30 second phone call gets stretched out over 10 texts over a half hour period because those same people don't respond to texts right away- but they sure get mad when you don't drop everything and respond right away.

i hate people, more and more every day...

For work, I need to confirm appointments. My customers are typically all of low social economic status. Stereotypically hiding from debt or hiding from the law.

When I call them to confirm, most will not answer my call from an unknown number. If the voice-mail reveals it is a cell phone I will then send over a confirmation request via text which almost always generates an immediate response.

Mike wrote: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.freedompop.ott FreedomPop supposedly does what you want. My brief experience with them was overwhelmingly negative due to abysmal customer support.

A glowing recommendation if I've ever heard one ! I think I'll try elsewhere.

Ya, a few kinda judgemental posts here. For the record I have a 100-minute phone plan which used to be fine when I lived elsewhere, but since north american providers insist on charging you for INCOMING calls (WTF?) and certain family members DO NOT get the message that my phone is not a "ramble-all-day" device, I end up paying about double my base rate each month in "out of plan" voice time. For something I hate doing. You better believe I'm gonna cut that E36 M3 off.

DrBoost wrote: I'll just say this. We have friends that refuse to take a voice call. They return voice calls (almost while it's ringing) with a text that says "what's up?" I don't call them anymore. If a text required more than 6 words, it should be a phone call. Maybe I'm just old.

Mission accomplished? I think I'd get on fabulously with your friends.

Without going into a whole bunch of philosophy, suffice to say "talking on the phone" strips away a HUGE layer of interaction that I run my social communications on. It's not a pleasurable experience. In the best case a "phone call" is strained and tiring to me, even with someone I like. It gives the people I care about the wrong idea about my mood or personality.

It's fine if strictly business, e.g. calling a shop to see if they're open or whatever. But if you wanna catch up for an hour and chit chat? Shoot me a text and we can meet for coffee or beers and have a time that we BOTH find enjoyable.

I am a SUPER laid back and non-confrontational guy in person, but everyone says I'm standoffish and brusque on the phone. That's not my real personality. The less of that E36 M3 I have to inflict on the world the better.

I'd say about 95% of my local friends bug me on Facebook chat if they want to reach me anyway. The rest send texts.

JohnRW1621 wrote: For work, I need to confirm appointments. My customers are typically all of low social economic status. Stereotypically hiding from debt or hiding from the law. When I call them to confirm, most will not answer my call from an unknown number. If the voice-mail reveals it is a cell phone I will then send over a confirmation request via text which almost always generates an immediate response.

I'm in my 30s, university-educated, world-travelled, and upper-middle-class by any definition, and I sure as hell don't answer calls from unknown or 'restricted' numbers. That's how you invite in the spampires.

BoxheadTim wrote: In reply to Jay: Have you checked if you can CyanogenMod it? That might well take care of the old Android - I'd be wary of running old versions with all the security issues found.

My phone is old enough to predate the latest kernel vulnerability ruckus. 2.6 forever!

Looks like I can get up to Cyanogen 10.1. Interesting ... haven't thought about CM in a while. But yeah, in all honesty the thing's on its last legs. It eats chargers for breakfast regularly and the last time I dropped it it fixed something rather than breaking anything new.

In reply to Jay:

Just to be clear, my customers really are all low social economic and largely hiding from something.
You then point out that you are college educated, upper middle class.
I don't want it to seem that I am implying that all people who do not answer the phone are of low social economic status. I was only pointing out that my customers are excessively suspicious.
I understand that people of all of all statuses can rightfully be suspicious or mindful of their privacy. I was trying to show that communication via text reduces that suspicion and/or can get through communication barriers.

I more so just wanted to acknowledge that a reduction in voice communication is a real and genuine trend in the telecom industry and siting that it has been clearly recognized for years by referencing some research of about 6 years ago.

I fear that my words may be seen as insulting or belittling your communication style which are not my intentions

No worries I wasn't insulted! I was just making the point that it applies to everyone.

Ah another tech question right up my alley. What you need is a SIP account with a VoIP provider. There are even free ones if you want. Check this out:

http://www.pcnexus.net/2014/06/how-to-setup-sip-account-for-voip-calling-android-without-google-skype.html

Totally platform-independent and an open protocol.

Let me preface this by saying that I'm not a tech guy, so I have no experience with any of these apps or services. This is strictly the opinion of a relatively uninformed outsider.

My only concern would be the difficulty of making a voice call in the event of an emergency. How much longer would it take to get an emergency call out with an app? Seems to me that by the time you search through all of the apps, and open the correct one, and make your call, you could've lost valuable seconds in an emergency situation.

^That's something that you might find to be different between the free SIP services and the paid ones. It's worth checking out before you choose one. Also keep in mind that 911 can't use cell tower triangulation to pinpoint you if you call them through VoIP - support for VoIP geolocation is pretty new and from what I understand, support among emergency services in the US is practically nonexistent.

Jay wrote:

Mike wrote: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.freedompop.ott FreedomPop supposedly does what you want. My brief experience with them was overwhelmingly negative due to abysmal customer support.

A glowing recommendation if I've ever heard one ! I think I'll try elsewhere.

The up side is that you can try it out for free.

Jay wrote: Ya, a few kinda judgemental posts here. For the record I have a 100-minute phone plan which used to be fine when I lived elsewhere, but since north american providers insist on charging you for INCOMING calls (WTF?) and certain family members DO NOT get the message that my phone is not a "ramble-all-day" device, I end up paying about double my base rate each month in "out of plan" voice time. For something I *hate* doing. You better believe I'm gonna cut that E36 M3 off.

DrBoost wrote: I'll just say this. We have friends that refuse to take a voice call. They return voice calls (almost while it's ringing) with a text that says "what's up?" I don't call them anymore. If a text required more than 6 words, it should be a phone call. Maybe I'm just old.

Mission accomplished? I think I'd get on fabulously with your friends. Without going into a whole bunch of philosophy, suffice to say "talking on the phone" strips away a HUGE layer of interaction that I run my social communications on. It's not a pleasurable experience. In the best case a "phone call" is strained and tiring to me, even with someone I like. It gives the people I care about the wrong idea about my mood or personality. It's fine if strictly business, e.g. calling a shop to see if they're open or whatever. But if you wanna catch up for an hour and chit chat? Shoot me a text and we can meet for coffee or beers and have a time that we BOTH find enjoyable. I am a SUPER laid back and non-confrontational guy in person, but everyone says I'm standoffish and brusque on the phone. That's not my real personality. The less of that E36 M3 I have to inflict on the world the better. I'd say about 95% of my local friends bug me on Facebook chat if they want to reach me anyway. The rest send texts.

JohnRW1621 wrote: For work, I need to confirm appointments. My customers are typically all of low social economic status. Stereotypically hiding from debt or hiding from the law. When I call them to confirm, most will not answer my call from an unknown number. If the voice-mail reveals it is a cell phone I will then send over a confirmation request via text which almost always generates an immediate response.

I'm in my 30s, university-educated, world-travelled, and upper-middle-class by any definition, and *I* sure as hell don't answer calls from unknown or 'restricted' numbers. That's how you invite in the spampires.

How is talking on the phone less of an interaction than a phone conversation. You can't get inflection, sense-stress, etc.
Here's my issue. If I call you, and as a rule, you only return my call with a text you are telling me that I'm not important enough to you to have a conversation. Our dealings must fit within other conversations you are holding via text, or while taking a dump, or during commercials, or whatever else you're doing. I know, we're all busy, as am I. But when we are making arrangements for, say a huge event, it's much easier to talk on the phone for 8 minutes then to text back and forth (the decipher the abbreviated, or fat-fingered words) for HOURS to accomplish the same thing. The funny thing is, when they have car trouble, they know who to CALL for help. But, I just can't be bothered.