Here are some options for setting up a data-only phone to make calls over wifi with no contracts and no monthly plan. Certainly there are other approaches, these are just the ones I’ve tried myself. option 1a: Get a parked SIP number (SipSorcery, IPKall) that you can use for Google Voice call forwarding and piggyback on free wifi networks [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Mobile Freedom Project'
Testing… Is this thing on?
September 16th, 2010 No Comments
I’m at NYC Resistor, testing out Skype over my 3G MiFi card. So far it seems that it’s not even close to reliable as a voice solution, even on full bars. Here’s a recording of a call on the MiFi. The message was: “Testing call quality on Skype with MiFi 3G. The quick brown fox [...]
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Sent from my Verizon Flip Phone
August 31st, 2010 No Comments
Welcome to a new installment in the Mobile Freedom Project series. I just got the charger for my recently ebay-acquired LG VX 6100, a 6-year-old Verizon flip phone. Sure enough, the phone holds a charge, and I just switched over service from my Palm Pre and downgraded my service to $20/month. Just as a reminder, [...]
Tags: mobile freedom project · mobile service
iPod Data Phone
July 25th, 2010 No Comments
If you want an iPhone without the procrustean contracts and pricey service plans, here’s a solution: an iPod with Skype and Google Voice SMS, running on EVDO wifi. The Mobile Freedom Project continues with this latest iteration. After hearing about Skype with multitasking, I purchased an 3rd Generation iPod Touch (the only iPod that currently [...]
Tags: mobile freedom project · mobile service
iPalm
July 20th, 2010 No Comments
Over the past several months, I’ve been exploring with different strategies to customize my mobile service plan, going a good 5 months without a major service provider or contract. In May I opted to get a Palm Pre Plus with a 2 year contract with Verizon. The service beats AT&T, and the mobile hotspot feature lets [...]
Tags: mobile freedom project
Mobile Freedom Project – iPhone returns!
March 1st, 2010 No Comments
Exploring a couple of new options for my carrierless life. Datajack + SIPDroid on the G1 is treating me well (minus a nagging echo for the other caller). I have been missing the iPhone some, so went scrounging and found acrobits softphone. I was excited to see that it allows calls over 3G (whereas Skype [...]
Tags: fu_att · iphone · mobile freedom project · mobile service · sip
Mobile Freedom Project – SUCCESS!
January 16th, 2010 4 Comments
In earlier posts (here and here) I’ve talked about my frustration with contracts and crummy service from AT&T, and my quest to find an alternative. Skype + Peek was fine as an interim solution, but being tied to hotspot access only for voice was a problem. Furthermore, the Skype App won’t ring the iPhone, so [...]
Tags: mobile freedom project · mobile service
Good Riddance, ATT
December 15th, 2009 2 Comments
I just made the move to drop ATT, after a ridiculous conversation with a support representative. The upshot was that they refused to cancel my data plan on the iPhone (told me that the hardware wouldn’t update without the data connection, which is utter nonsense). I ported my number to Number Garage, forwarded it to [...]
Tags: mobile freedom project · mobile service
AT&T meets its match
November 28th, 2009 2 Comments
Right now I’m feeling especially good about technology innovation. After experiencing the AT&T’s tyranny and crappy service, I’m ditching my contract and setting up an array of services and devices to do what I need, with no contracts and at half the price. I signed up for a Boingo wireless for my iPhone, getting lifetime [...]
Tags: mobile freedom project · mobile service
