Pre-paid phone

[debodun]

Being a Ludite, I was reading up on the use of pre-paid phones. I don't understand some things, one being if you use your home (a.k.a. land line) number, you loose that service. Also, they ask you to bring your phone bill when you go to get the phone. Why do they need that?

 

[C'est Moi]

Assuming the new phone is with a different carrier, two carriers can't service the same phone number. I imagine they want the phone bill to make sure you aren't trying to use someone else's number...??

 

[debodun]

Can I just get a different number for the cell?

 

[Don M.]

Can I just get a different number for the cell?

Absolutely! I've never heard of anyone having the same number for both landline, and cell.

 

[Pepper]

Absolutely! I've never heard of anyone having the same number for both landline, and cell.

I know many folks who do.

 

[oldman]

Absolutely! I've never heard of anyone having the same number for both landline, and cell.

I can forward all calls from one number to the other phone.

 

[C'est Moi]

I can forward all calls from one number to the other phone.

Yes, but they have unique numbers.

 

[Gardenlover]

You should be able to buy a burner phone, without supplying all that information.

 

[Victor]

I get so few calls it hardly matters so I keep my cell off. I will be getting a smartphone soon
my first., mainly for the internet and making calls. I had a tracphone and returned it
because it was so touchy making calls, not easy. Then I bought a motorola
and returned that after 10 minutes in Walmart only because they were not paying
any attention to me. I was so mad. It is all very confusing to me, even after researching this on the internet.

 

[JaniceM]

I've never understood why anyone would want a landline if they have a cell phone. ??

 

[Pinky]

I've never understood why anyone would want a landline if they have a cell phone. ??

We keep our landline so we can have conference calls with our daughter, nephew, etc.

 

[Victor]

I use my landline every day and like it very much. Used to it.
Cell phones are too small and I prefer holding the cradle of the phone.
Besides, I do NOT want to be reached away from home, unless it is very
important. Hard to believe? True. Rarely is a call so important that it needs to be made
while I am out. Unless it is business.

 

[oldman]

Yes, but they have unique numbers.

Yes, that's correct. According to what I have read online, (which isn't always the wisest thing to go by), the ordinary Joe is not permitted a landline and a cell line with identical phone numbers. Only certain government officials are afforded that opportunity.

However, when I leave the house and I may be expecting an important call, I just forward the calls from the house phone to the cell phone. There's nothing else to do.

 

[debodun]

Landline phones are more secure.

 

[C'est Moi]

Landline phones are more secure.

Really? In what way?

 

[debodun]

If you know the cell frequency, you can listen in on a scanner radio.

 

[C'est Moi]

Modern cell phones including smartphones are digital and encrypted so listening to them requires costlier equipment, limiting cell phone snooping to government agencies and others with huge budgets.

By the way, there are also tapping devices that make it easy to eavesdrop on landlines if you are so inclined.

 

[JaniceM]

Modern cell phones including smartphones are digital and encrypted so listening to them requires costlier equipment, limiting cell phone snooping to government agencies and others with huge budgets.

By the way, there are also tapping devices that make it easy to eavesdrop on landlines if you are so inclined.

Back in the "olden days," it was as easy as having a party line

 

[C'est Moi]

Back in the "olden days," it was as easy as having a party line

I can't imagine being so paranoid about phone conversations. It's not like I am a secret agent or anything.

 

[JaniceM]

I can't imagine being so paranoid about phone conversations. It's not like I am a secret agent or anything.

The areas I lived in, nobody "listened in" to other people's conversations. I just meant it's a possibility if somebody's nosy enough.

 

[debodun]

I only know that my mom once had a police scanner and she could hear certain neighbor's cell phones. Maybe by now they are more secure - this was back in the 1980s.