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Charge, a phone company with features for nerds

charge.co

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Re: Charge, a phone company with features for nerds

#101
post #19
post #11

Can I have no voicemail ? That's a feature I really want and it's not easy to do. If you configure a mobile phone line without voicemail, it will not just ring and ring and ring (as I hoped it would) - instead, the caller gets a message that "the number you have dialed is not accepting calls at this time" ... or some other message (depending on the carrier) that makes it sound like you don't pay your phonebill or som…

How about forwarding to a landline (that will ring and ring) after a few rings.

Or just record a message that consists of nothing but 5 minutes of a phone ringing.

Re: Charge, a phone company with features for nerds

#102
post #11

Can I have no voicemail ? That's a feature I really want and it's not easy to do. If you configure a mobile phone line without voicemail, it will not just ring and ring and ring (as I hoped it would) - instead, the caller gets a message that "the number you have dialed is not accepting calls at this time" ... or some other message (depending on the carrier) that makes it sound like you don't pay your phonebill or som…

I have t-mobile and just called up support and asked them to disable voicemail. My phone does just ring and ring without any weird messages to the caller. Maybe other phone companies are different but if you have t-mobile just call them up and ask them to turn it off. Very quick and easy.

Re: Charge, a phone company with features for nerds

#103
post #11

Can I have no voicemail ? That's a feature I really want and it's not easy to do. If you configure a mobile phone line without voicemail, it will not just ring and ring and ring (as I hoped it would) - instead, the caller gets a message that "the number you have dialed is not accepting calls at this time" ... or some other message (depending on the carrier) that makes it sound like you don't pay your phonebill or som…

Im curious as to why you want that instead of voicemail?

Re: Charge, a phone company with features for nerds

#104
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ok, that's sort of workable ... EDIT: ok, actually not so much - if you are out of coverage area and your phone rings zero times and goes right to voicemail (that's how it works with carriers in the US) then the caller calls you and goes right to silence, and presumably they retry 1-2-3x and get frustrated ... not even sure this is the right number, etc. Whereas if the phone just rang and rang and rang, at least it w…

Maybe record a message from a text-to-speech program that says "Voicemail service is currently unavailable for a week of planned maintenance. Please try another time." Then, the person listening might say, "Down? And wait a week? Nevermind..."

I once stuck a telco "This number is no longer in service" recording (w/ the "special information tone" preceding) and as much silence as the voicemail system would allow as my outgoing greeting. People _still_ left messages...

Re: Charge, a phone company with features for nerds

#105

Nerds use data, and this pricing structure basically punishes them for it. I have unlimited data and 7gb tethering with T-Mobile and unless they do something stupid or close their doors I will just keep throwing money at them. I managed to snag it at $50 a month too.

Is that plan available still? I am on their $30/month plan for 5GB but would switch to your plan in a second. Got links?

In select markets it's probably available. I know tmobile doesn't run it everywhere and it's a limited time thing.

Re: Charge, a phone company with features for nerds

#106
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ok, that's sort of workable ... EDIT: ok, actually not so much - if you are out of coverage area and your phone rings zero times and goes right to voicemail (that's how it works with carriers in the US) then the caller calls you and goes right to silence, and presumably they retry 1-2-3x and get frustrated ... not even sure this is the right number, etc. Whereas if the phone just rang and rang and rang, at least it w…

This was the message on my voice mail before I had switched to a carrier that made it easy to turn it off (that wasn't the reason I switched, that was a nice surprise): --- Hi, this is Evan. I will never ever ever ever listen to the voice mail you’re about to leave, because voice mail is a pain in the butt. So if you actually want to reach me, you can either send me an SMS, send me e-mail, or try my home number. Feel…

My friend has a passive aggressive voice mail message like this. So every time I get his voice mail I leave a long message which I know he has to listen to.

Re: Charge, a phone company with features for nerds

#107
If I signup for the data only plan ($3/mo) and purchase 1GB ($13) of data; does that data expire?

For example, if I want to use only 100MB/mo could I pay $3/mo for 10 months with a single 1GB data purchase at the beginning to cover all 10 months?

Re: Charge, a phone company with features for nerds

#108
post #48

I'm paying no monthly fees on Ringplus for a decent plan (3500 min/sms/mb). It's not so simple to get, they have "flash promos" with good plans, but if you sign up for promo emails at https://promos.ringplus.net/ you should be able to catch them (one's going on today and tomorrow). The only catches are a weirdly structured sign up fee (minimum top up for most plans, and now they have member+ only plans, which costs $…

How is this even possible? Their site seems so sketchy.

Re: Charge, a phone company with features for nerds

#109
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ok, that's sort of workable ... EDIT: ok, actually not so much - if you are out of coverage area and your phone rings zero times and goes right to voicemail (that's how it works with carriers in the US) then the caller calls you and goes right to silence, and presumably they retry 1-2-3x and get frustrated ... not even sure this is the right number, etc. Whereas if the phone just rang and rang and rang, at least it w…

This was the message on my voice mail before I had switched to a carrier that made it easy to turn it off (that wasn't the reason I switched, that was a nice surprise): --- Hi, this is Evan. I will never ever ever ever listen to the voice mail you’re about to leave, because voice mail is a pain in the butt. So if you actually want to reach me, you can either send me an SMS, send me e-mail, or try my home number. Feel…

@blisterpeanuts: Unfortunately, Google Voice isn't available in the Antipodes.

@post_break: Don't know that I would characterise it as passive aggressive. It isn't meant to be, certainly not to the caller. As I said, most people who heard it found it amusing more than annoying. One even asked if they could steal the idea.

Re: Charge, a phone company with features for nerds

#110
post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Charge CEO here. We can definitely disable voicemail for you. I actually have it disabled myself. Just send us an email to get it removed. We should probably just add a checkbox for it in the management UI though now that I think about it.

"Charge CEO here. We can definitely disable voicemail for you." Yes, but what happens when you disable voicemail ? ATT wireless can disable vm for me, it just results in weird behavior that confuses people... If I disable voicemail on Charge, and am out of coverage area (or have phone turned off) what does the caller experience ?

The caller can still text you or email you.
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