Currently looking at:
- jmp.chat with the Cheogram app - at $3 a month for each number, it’s a little pricey.
- VoIP.ms with either the linphone app or one of the other FOSS apps in their softphones list - $0.85 a month but calls and messages are a la carte, which is not my favorite but it’s less expensive.
I know a lot of people like using MySudo or Grandstream, but I’d like to keep it FOSS and not reliant on google play services if possible. Battery considerations are also a plus.
So what are you using and would you recommend it?
JMP chat is great
Did you get any spam calls?
None so far
Do you use Cheogram for messaging? What app do you use for VOIP calls?
Yes you use Cheogram
Twilio is pumped over at Intel Techniques by Michael Bazzell. They charge $1.15 per month per number, which isn’t bad considering it’s a fairly reputable company. After signing up for a trial number and going through these long instructions, I was able to make an outgoing call. To get MMS going would require a whole other set of steps (that I have yet to find) just to get it setup, and then you have to go through an MMS verification process with Twilio which looks to be geared towards businesses. In fact, Michael also said on episode 277 how Twilio has been less interested in supporting him and his listeners and appears to be more geared towards businesses. So I guess I’ll go bark up one of the other two options from my original post unless someone has any good reasons to do otherwise.
I hate to admit it but I’m still using Google voice. I’ve run into a lot of trouble with some sites requiring a cell phone number instead of a virtual number. So the refusing the Google voice number so I have to fall back to a Google Fi number. Which isn’t ideal.
I mainly want it for my resume, rewards programs, and when you go out to eat and they ask for a phone number to text you when your table is ready. Hopefully, I don’t run into any issues with it being a VOIP number in those circumstances.
