Earlier quoted context omitted.
use a bank that provides a website?
website says to authenticate with app, now what?
In the case of HSBC I said the app would not work on my phone and they send me a security widget.
My main Android phone is now 99% Google free
21–30 of 43 posts
Re: My main Android phone is now 99% Google free
#22Earlier quoted context omitted.
WhatsApp has replaced the PSTN in many countries. Without it, you cannot contact businesses; they simply do not answer normal phone calls. Also, booking accommodation over the internet may require WhatsApp in order to receive self-check-in information, and if you manage to communicate to the accommodation that you don’t have WhatsApp, it may simply cancel your reservation unilaterally.
Even where its not required, it can be a lot cheaper (e.g. for international calls) and has features (conference calls) not offered by consumer phones. Whatsapp's success has partly been driven by telecoms companies over-charging.
There are thousands, maybe millions, of alternatives to Whatsapp for that purpose.
Re: My main Android phone is now 99% Google free
#23What about banking apps?
I don't know about LineageOS, but there is crowd-sourced list of banks that work with GrapheneOS: https://github.com/PrivSec-dev/banking-apps-compat-report
More info here: https://grapheneos.org/usage#banking-apps
My credit union wasn't on the list, but it works.
Re: My main Android phone is now 99% Google free
#24Earlier quoted context omitted.
Even where its not required, it can be a lot cheaper (e.g. for international calls) and has features (conference calls) not offered by consumer phones. Whatsapp's success has partly been driven by telecoms companies over-charging.
There are thousands, maybe millions, of alternatives to Whatsapp for that purpose.
It's way too late for alternatives now, unless regulation is created to break the monopoly.
Re: My main Android phone is now 99% Google free
#25Earlier quoted context omitted.
WhatsApp has replaced the PSTN in many countries. Without it, you cannot contact businesses; they simply do not answer normal phone calls. Also, booking accommodation over the internet may require WhatsApp in order to receive self-check-in information, and if you manage to communicate to the accommodation that you don’t have WhatsApp, it may simply cancel your reservation unilaterally.
Even where its not required, it can be a lot cheaper (e.g. for international calls) and has features (conference calls) not offered by consumer phones. Whatsapp's success has partly been driven by telecoms companies over-charging.
I recently made a phone call from the US to UK. I was horrified to find that my unlimited calling didn't apply to that international route. Really?!? Countries should be fighting to remove those fees. I can call Mexico or Canada without any additional cost, so it can be done. I'd originally proposed starting a business with the UK gentleman, but this is likely the first of many regulations which will tax me.
Re: My main Android phone is now 99% Google free
#26Earlier quoted context omitted.
Even where its not required, it can be a lot cheaper (e.g. for international calls) and has features (conference calls) not offered by consumer phones. Whatsapp's success has partly been driven by telecoms companies over-charging.
I recently made a phone call from the US to UK. I was horrified to find that my unlimited calling didn't apply to that international route. Really?!? Countries should be fighting to remove those fees. I can call Mexico or Canada without any additional cost, so it can be done. I'd originally proposed starting a business with the UK gentleman, but this is likely the first of many regulations which will tax me.
This is a case of inaction by regulators, rather than action.
They do it because they can and its not important to most people.
Re: My main Android phone is now 99% Google free
#27What about banking apps?
"Before explaining my setup in more detail, I want to clarify, that I still use a second phone. It is an older stock Android phone, with all Google stuff on it. I need still need to use banking and other apps, that don't work on custom roms."
Re: My main Android phone is now 99% Google free
#28Earlier quoted context omitted.
Even where its not required, it can be a lot cheaper (e.g. for international calls) and has features (conference calls) not offered by consumer phones. Whatsapp's success has partly been driven by telecoms companies over-charging.
Telecoms financed and built the communication infrastructure which made the internet (and thus, WhatsApp) possible. WhatsApp is also further subsidised because you also pay for the internet to use it.
Telecoms received excessive returns on their investment. Effectively acting as rentiers for long distance calls.
Re: My main Android phone is now 99% Google free
#29also try out twent[.]xyz which is an Agentic SuperApp for android. you bring your own keys or use local models, so you've got full control. side note: it's UI automation is way too fast.
Re: My main Android phone is now 99% Google free
#30Earlier quoted context omitted.
Even where its not required, it can be a lot cheaper (e.g. for international calls) and has features (conference calls) not offered by consumer phones. Whatsapp's success has partly been driven by telecoms companies over-charging.
Telecoms financed and built the communication infrastructure which made the internet (and thus, WhatsApp) possible. WhatsApp is also further subsidised because you also pay for the internet to use it.
This might be true in your country but it's absolutely incorrect in mine. Most of the telecoms here started as crown corporations, making them an arm of the government. Some of them have been privatized since then but they all received billions in subsidies to build out the networks to cover everyone and not just the most populated areas. An awful lot of Canadian taxpayer dollars have gone to build the internet in this country and we still get gouged like crazy.