I haven't ditched my phone, but ever since I started using a Macbook, I have been only using my iPhone maybe 10 minutes a day (mostly in the bathroom). I read/write SMS, browse photos, toggle hotspot etc. from the Macbook.
Ask HN: Who has ditched their phone and what is your replacement?
11–20 of 41 posts
Re: Ask HN: Who has ditched their phone and what is your replacement?
#12I have no cellphone. Not since ~2003 when I finally cancelled my cellphone subscription altogether. That was GSM/flip-phone. Never got a smartphone. I have a fancy business landline phone on my desk with an address book, different ringtones (VIP/client, friends etc.) and an answering machine. I am a freelance consultant for 20 years. I never lost a client or a job over not being reachable by cellphone 24/7. I return…
I just want to note here: There is no evidence that there is such a thing as electromagnetic hypersensitivity. In double blind trials people would experience the same symptoms (headaches etc.) independent of if a router in the room was turned on or not.
Re: Ask HN: Who has ditched their phone and what is your replacement?
#13For years I've used Skype on a PC. With Skype you can create and fund an account with a credit card than it takes to wait in line to wait in line at the AT&T store. Microsoft looks positively customer-centric compared to the wireless industry. The minus is that some services will accept and send SMS to Skype and others won't. If you want to register on, say, OkCupid, Skype won't work. I have looked into services you…
What about Twilio?
Re: Ask HN: Who has ditched their phone and what is your replacement?
#14Maybe, not the answer you are you are looking for, but I replaced the phone, with a... phone, but without a SIM card. So much peace now. I use VOIP through Telegram and Signal. I use email. I get extremely fine-grained control over who can reach me, and when can I be reached. I made this switch since February, 2020, and my life became better by 10-15% better automatically. My phone hasn’t rang and I hadn't answered i…
How did you route VOIP through Telegram and Signal? Don't you need a real phone number to sign-up?
Re: Ask HN: Who has ditched their phone and what is your replacement?
#15No post body was provided.
Re: Ask HN: Who has ditched their phone and what is your replacement?
#16I have no cellphone. Not since ~2003 when I finally cancelled my cellphone subscription altogether. That was GSM/flip-phone. Never got a smartphone. I have a fancy business landline phone on my desk with an address book, different ringtones (VIP/client, friends etc.) and an answering machine. I am a freelance consultant for 20 years. I never lost a client or a job over not being reachable by cellphone 24/7. I return…
I just want to note here: There is no evidence that there is such a thing as electromagnetic hypersensitivity. In double blind trials people would experience the same symptoms (headaches etc.) independent of if a router in the room was turned on or not.
Counterpoint: phones have been shown to warm up brains (1), and it is hardly surprising that amongst the billions of phone users some experience pain/headache from heat (perhaps also indirectly from blood vessel dilation?). So it is hardly surprising for OP to have such an experience.
1.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5952570/#:~:tex.... (Quickly googled result, I'm sure there are better results)
Re: Ask HN: Who has ditched their phone and what is your replacement?
#17I have no cellphone. Not since ~2003 when I finally cancelled my cellphone subscription altogether. That was GSM/flip-phone. Never got a smartphone. I have a fancy business landline phone on my desk with an address book, different ringtones (VIP/client, friends etc.) and an answering machine. I am a freelance consultant for 20 years. I never lost a client or a job over not being reachable by cellphone 24/7. I return…
this man is a fucking legend. learn from him kids.
Re: Ask HN: Who has ditched their phone and what is your replacement?
#18I have no cellphone. Not since ~2003 when I finally cancelled my cellphone subscription altogether. That was GSM/flip-phone. Never got a smartphone. I have a fancy business landline phone on my desk with an address book, different ringtones (VIP/client, friends etc.) and an answering machine. I am a freelance consultant for 20 years. I never lost a client or a job over not being reachable by cellphone 24/7. I return…
I just want to note here: There is no evidence that there is such a thing as electromagnetic hypersensitivity. In double blind trials people would experience the same symptoms (headaches etc.) independent of if a router in the room was turned on or not.
ThERe iS nO EvidEnCe… my wife has the same problem
Re: Ask HN: Who has ditched their phone and what is your replacement?
#19Maybe, not the answer you are you are looking for, but I replaced the phone, with a... phone, but without a SIM card. So much peace now. I use VOIP through Telegram and Signal. I use email. I get extremely fine-grained control over who can reach me, and when can I be reached. I made this switch since February, 2020, and my life became better by 10-15% better automatically. My phone hasn’t rang and I hadn't answered i…
I've done similar, except I still have a phone with sim card (and a number I don't even know) for the odd chance I need to make a call when out and about and for things like mapping walking/driving routes, etc. I'll probably get rid of the sim, like you, in the coming months.
I used the recent spat of telemarketers bombarding myself, friends and family all day to finally make the move. It's been really amazing because of all the benefits you listed. Now I communicate when I'm ready, keeping my phone on DND 24/7, not at the behest of other's whims.
I ported the number most people have to Voip.ms. All calls now go directly to voicemail, where the message says that due to telemarketers, I no longer answer, so leave a VM or message me on a messenger app if we know each other.
If I need to make or return calls for business or services, I either use VOIP.ms SIP settings on GS Wave for my old number when I'm on wifi or use the number my sim has attached to it, which I don't know or give out.
All calls to or from family or friends are either done through Telegram, Signal or Facetime. 99% of the time though, I communicate through text on those apps. 1% of the time someomeone will send an sms, which I see in my email app and reply at my leisure.
There's only been 2 issues so far:
- One of my friends is oldschool and prefers to call my number eventhough I've trained him to use Telegram. However, I don't get back to his calls quickly since I only check email twice a day, where his transcribed voicemails now go. Like training a puppy, I reinforce him messaging me on Telegram with quicker answers, so as of a few a weeks ago, he's started to solely message or voice/video call me through Telegram.
- My partner was at the grocery store and was annoyed they couldn't call and have me pick up instantly for a quick question. They brought up the, "What would happen in an emergency?" I told them that since there's a .01% that a call to me in the moment would make a lick of difference, it's not worth keeping the floodgates open for that one, minute edgecase. They actually agreed after thinking it over a few minutes.
Re: Ask HN: Who has ditched their phone and what is your replacement?
#20Maybe, not the answer you are you are looking for, but I replaced the phone, with a... phone, but without a SIM card. So much peace now. I use VOIP through Telegram and Signal. I use email. I get extremely fine-grained control over who can reach me, and when can I be reached. I made this switch since February, 2020, and my life became better by 10-15% better automatically. My phone hasn’t rang and I hadn't answered i…
How did you route VOIP through Telegram and Signal? Don't you need a real phone number to sign-up?
I signed up for both by using my voip number without issue.