Cell Phone Stolen

[ultrarunner]

Likely story….why did u rob the guy…

Just because I live in Oakland?

 

[dfkrug]

Just because I live in Oakland?

Was it Willie Brown's phone? Ew.

I buy cheapo Android phones (Currently a low-end Galaxy). You are
really missing out on massive improvements if you don't get a new phone every few years, Android or Apple.

 

[grsthegreat]

I miss the days of rotary dial land lines. No one could just call or text me cause there bored, or want immediate service. They left a message, and didnt expect a call back till after 5.

The good old days

 

[Jstpssng]

I miss the days of rotary dial land lines. No one could just call or text me cause there bored, or want immediate service. They left a message, and didnt expect a call back till after 5.

The good old days

You obviously don't remember prank calls. Before anybody heard of caller ID or even *69 I had a wrong number at 4:30 one morning. No problem, right? Except the D-head made it a point to call me every morning at the same time for a week. I was not impressed.

 

[ultrarunner]

I miss the days of rotary dial land lines. No one could just call or text me cause there bored, or want immediate service. They left a message, and didnt expect a call back till after 5.

The good old days

I still have 2 rotary landline phones in use but the days me be numbered as the landline cost increase and that’s without toll calls.

With the extended power outages my landlines and DSL were the only functioning phones/internet by the second day as the neighborhood cell towers went dark.

 

[ultrarunner]

Was it Willie Brown's phone? Ew.

I buy cheapo Android phones (Currently a low-end Galaxy). You are
really missing out on massive improvements if you don't get a new phone every few years, Android or Apple.

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/perata-carjacker-gets-18-plus-years-in-prison-3220850.php

 

[dfkrug]

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/perata-carjacker-gets-18-plus-years-in-prison-3220850.php

Wow, nearly 16y ago. I remember when that happened....

 

[not2old]

I buy cheapo Android phones (Currently a low-end Galaxy). You are
really missing out on massive improvements if you don't get a new phone every few years, Android or Apple.
[/QUOTE]
I don't want "improvements" If if ain't broke, don't fix it. Same goes for most of the electronic crap on new cars.

 

[not2old]

I still have 2 rotary landline phones in use but the days me be numbered as the landline cost increase and that’s without toll calls.

With the extended power outages my landlines and DSL were the only functioning phones/internet by the second day as the neighborhood cell towers went dark.

I thought the same thing before our wildfires here in 2023. Landlines took four months to repair and the new "improved" versions need a battery if the power goes out. I had to get a second cell phone for my wife in case that happens when I'm not home. $16.00 per month for the last 17 months and the only use is to see if it works.

 

[ultrarunner]

Is faxing straight forward with VOIP?

One landline is a business phone and the other belonged to the folks going back to the 1960’s

I would be interested in keeping the folks number with an inexpensive option… as long as voice mail can replace the answering machine…

 

[Jstpssng]

Is faxing straight forward with VOIP?

One landline is a business phone and the other belonged to the folks going back to the 1960’s

I would be interested in keeping the folks number with an inexpensive option… as long as voice mail can replace the answering machine…

You can replace your landline with a cell and keep your existing number, as long as you haven't had it shut off. You would have to find out about rates yourself. They will try to sell you a data plan but it sounds like you aren't interested in that. Once you find a plan you are happy with contact that cell provider, they will have you fill out a form and handle switching over themselves. Every cell carrier I know of includes voice mail in their plan.

I had my landline switched over last year because the fees kept going up yet my connection was dismal. Service is still dismal but I am saving $40/month.

 

[ultrarunner]

Landline is hovering around $80 per month with no long distance use… just incoming from distant elderly family and friends and endless telemarketers!

The idea of US Mobile home phone is interesting as it says use your own handset… no where can I find if that includes rotary?

Currently the folks place has 6 hardwired phones on the landline… 2 rotary, one princess rotary and three touch tone.

The phones were originally leased from Pacific Bell/ATT and later purchased from ATT and I remember placing the Customer owned stickers to the underside of each.

The landline and home newspaper delivery total about $2,000 annually.

I guess my real question would be can all 6 extensions work off the existing hardwire…?

Phones are Kitchen, Living Room, Shop and 3 bedrooms.

 

[bdhsfz6]

These are the things we do to protect our phones:

I'm on my 5th iPhone but never had one stolen. My wife and I share a contact list so if one phone is lost, we still have all that information.

I don't do e-mail, banking or make credit card purchases on the smartphone so a thief wouldn't get much if it does get stolen. 2 factor authentication also makes it tough to access our information.

In addition to iCloud backup, I use a program called "iMazing" to backup all my information to my PC.

I don't carry the phone in my back pocket and never let it out of my sight when in public. My wife carries hers in her pocket, not in her purse. This won't deter a snatch & grab thief but when it comes to violence, hey, they can have the phone. It isn't worth dying for.

We have loss / damage coverage through both our credit card company and our cellular provider. The minimal cost is worth it for a couple of $1000+ phones.

 

[ultrarunner]

I get more work calls on my personal paid cell than my work desk phone… vendors calling to say they are onsite, managers and employees reporting issues, docs with requests plus all the government agencies have my cell as a point of contact…

This dates back to the days when this cell was provided to me as Director of Engineering… that position no longer exists and Chief Engineers are not eligible for company phones which are now limited to salaried executives.

I’ve replaced the battery twice in 10 years and midday when at my station I plug it in to charge as a heavy phone day it can use just about all the charge in a 9 hour day.

Totally on me for leaving it unattended the few minutes it took to walk back the FedEx package…

Maybe I don’t “Need” it but on the go efficiency would drop… on the other hand I would save $69 a month and not have work calls after clocking out.

 

[Oaktree]

You obviously don't remember prank calls. Before anybody heard of caller ID or even *69 I had a wrong number at 4:30 one morning. No problem, right? Except the D-head made it a point to call me every morning at the same time for a week. I was not impressed.

Back in the 80s I had an ex-GF who was alcoholic (a big part of why she was an "ex"). Many "drink and dial" calls in the middle of the night. I'd just unplug the phone when I went to bed, the likelihood of a legit phonecall in the middle of the night was nil. She finally gave up.

 

[jyoutz]

You can replace your landline with a cell and keep your existing number, as long as you haven't had it shut off. You would have to find out about rates yourself. They will try to sell you a data plan but it sounds like you aren't interested in that. Once you find a plan you are happy with contact that cell provider, they will have you fill out a form and handle switching over themselves. Every cell carrier I know of includes voice mail in their plan.

I had my landline switched over last year because the fees kept going up yet my connection was dismal. Service is still dismal but I am saving $40/month.

I dumped my landline last year because the only calls I received on it were solicitors. I keep the DSL part of the service for internet. Not great, but far cheaper than wireless or satellite internet.

 

[Jstpssng]

Landline is hovering around $80 per month with no long distance use

That's about what I pay for unlimited calls and data on my AT&T plan. I heard recently that T-Mobile was working on some deal with Musk so that it would run off Starlink when cell service isn't available. No doubt there is a cost involved...

 

[grsthegreat]

I get more work calls on my personal paid cell than my work desk phone… vendors calling to say they are onsite, managers and employees reporting issues, docs with requests plus all the government agencies have my cell as a point of contact…

This dates back to the days when this cell was provided to me as Director of Engineering… that position no longer exists and Chief Engineers are not eligible for company phones which are now limited to salaried executives.

I’ve replaced the battery twice in 10 years and midday when at my station I plug it in to charge as a heavy phone day it can use just about all the charge in a 9 hour day.

Totally on me for leaving it unattended the few minutes it took to walk back the FedEx package…

Maybe I don’t “Need” it but on the go efficiency would drop… on the other hand I would save $69 a month and not have work calls after clocking out.

Holy cow…. They wont pay you for work related phone. Tell them to call you on land line and leave message, and youll get to it when you can get back to office to receive messages.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Holy cow…. They wont pay you for work related phone. Tell them to call you on land line and leave message, and youll get to it when you can get back to office to receive messages.

I was in the same situation before I retired. If I weren't willing to use my personal cell phone for company business, they would have fired me and hired someone who would.

Whether it was legal or not, it certainly wasn't ethical, but that's just the way it was.

 

[WM75Guy]

Is faxing straight forward with VOIP?

One landline is a business phone and the other belonged to the folks going back to the 1960’s

I would be interested in keeping the folks number with an inexpensive option… as long as voice mail can replace the answering machine…

We went with Spectrum internet when they installed fiber down our county road. I have their landline option thru Charter Communications, which is VOIP I would assume. It is a separate jack on the modem. My fax machine works just fine.