Safe Talk

[difenbaker]

Safe Talk - Temporary Phone Number

http://gizmodo.com/images/2006/05/safetalk.gif

Safe Talk is a new service in the UK that allows you to generate a temporary phone number to use for 7 days to give to people you don’t trust/know.

"It’s simple - text CALL to 80876 and get a temporary number that diverts to your mobile phone for 7 days, and keep your own number safe - until you know if they’re nuts or not!"

Each number costs £1.50, and you can choose to either extend your usage of the number after seven days or cancel it. Avoiding confrontation seems very British-y, but this service should do well in the US for daters.

http://www.safe-talk.co.uk/




.... I think that this is a great idea, dont you? Especially useful for businessmen or shop owners - who doesn't want a reply from irritating clients.

cheers!

[MikeUK]

.... I think that this is a great idea, dont you? Especially useful for businessmen or shop owners - who doesn't want a reply from irritating clients.

cheers!
Think it's a good idea.......but I think that'd be one of the few cases where it just shouldn't be used! To be good in buisness you need to keep customers happy, and giving them a phone number that wont work after 7 days wouldn't best please me if I needed to contact them.

[carcomptoy]

Definitely agree with MikeUK, good idea for dates but not for businesses. Seems a bit pricey, don't you think, though?

[MikeUK]

Looking at the high prices of other text services, and how useful this can be, I think it's a fair price.

[carcomptoy]

A quid and a half? That's like 2-3USD and the people who would actually use this would be the ones who really couldn't afford to be using this on every person they meet at the bar, you know?

[difenbaker]

Think it's a good idea.......but I think that'd be one of the few cases where it just shouldn't be used! To be good in buisness you need to keep customers happy, and giving them a phone number that wont work after 7 days wouldn't best please me if I needed to contact them.

yup, that's a good point too, of course business people should give numbers that's reliable, that's a given.

but this concept...um, I was thinking of protecting more the individual than the business itself. (whether he's behind the counter or in front of it). For the business people who'd rather not stay in touch with irritating clients (and there always are, as we all know...) - this could be a good way to do it.

on the other hand - on the clients side, the person himself, this would be a good way to avoid irritating business people. (like telemarketers, salesmen, etc...) Especially if you're in a position wherein saying a direct "no" isnt possible.


cheers!

[MikeUK]

A quid and a half? That's like 2-3USD and the people who would actually use this would be the ones who really couldn't afford to be using this on every person they meet at the bar, you know?
One could last you a week, you can keep giving out the same number, and if you find that someone is alright, say you got a new sim and give them your real number.:p

[carcomptoy]

I suppose, but if one were to really utilize a service such as this, wouldn't it be cheaper and easier just to get another PAYG phone?

[Jose_R.A.M]

The principle is good.

Just order some free sims from O2, (or any other network giving out free sims, O2 seems to do it often) and have that as your secondary (or tertiary/whatever) line for screening calls.

[MikeUK]

I suppose, but if one were to really utilize a service such as this, wouldn't it be cheaper and easier just to get another PAYG phone?
I understand what you mean, but the advantage of this is that you only need one phone, don't have to carry two or have two switched on.

[Jose_R.A.M]

I understand what you mean, but the advantage of this is that you only need one phone, don't have to carry two or have two switched on.

I was just thinking about that...although you could get a ghost sim/dual sim adaptor...but that still means only one number is ever "on" at one time.