A Local Phone Number?

[Purdue]

Hi, I was just informed the command is requiring me to get a local telephone number and have it on record with them. I've just used my cell-phone fore the last five years... and would rather not have to pay $30 - $40 a month for a telephone line I'm going not going to be using (that's the cheapest rates around here) And I don't want to change my cell-phone number... as all my family and friends would have difficulties tracking me... and it would only change again in 6 months.

I know there are services that give you a pseudo-local-number... and then just forward all calls to your cell-phone. Have any of you used these? Which ones are cheapest, or does anyone recommend? I'm just wondering how you guys solved this issue.

Thanks in advance...


[[[ Hunkers down in flame-proof bunker ]]]

 

[zippy]

Had a buddy buy a throwaway cell phone with a local #, with the calls forwarded to his cell...

 

[mules83]

Hey, was this school command telling you this? Or was this due to IFS, etc. Just wondering incase I missed something.

 

[zippy]

Hey, was this school command telling you this? Or was this due to IFS, etc. Just wondering incase I missed something.

I think hes at Vance now...

 

[NavyLonghorn]

Ive been told by three commands to get a local phone number. Ive never had one, noone ever cared.

This is especially crap since at Vance they just want the number so they dont have to use long distance when they call you to guy buy candy for the Gedunk. Noone needs your number when you class up.... they know where you are ;p.

 

[Purdue]

Yes it is Vance.... and actually, it's the NAVY liason YN1 who's demanding I get a local number.... he says it's a pet-peeve of the Navy Commander who's in charge of us there.... and although I might argue the point with a YN1... I'm not going to rub my Ensign Bars against his "Leaves of Wonder".

So... I will have to figure out a way to get a local number. That throwaway phone idea might work... I'll try to find one, unfortunatly.... there is no CircuitCity or Bestbuy that I have yet discovered in Enid, OK (as I recall, OK had a huge problem with a bunch of T-mobile single-use cell phones a year or so ago, because the single use cell phones aren't authorized on some of OK's area codes...)

Thanks guys! and anyone else want to pipe up with suggestions?

 

[pennst8]

http://www.vonage.com/

Cheaper than the numbers you were throwing out there... all you need is broadband and some fairly cheap hardware... moves when you move... etc.

 

[HAL Pilot]

www.Skype.com - it's cheaper than Vonage and does not require any special hardware for the computer. Plus it goes where you go.

Use Skype In / Skype Out. You can get up to 5 local numbers and have them forwarded to your cell phone (you can change the number whenever you want). It's $38 a year or $12 for 3 months for Skype In and it includes voice mail. If you are online, it rings on your computer and you talk thruough its mic & speakers (like MSN messenger). If you have the calls forwarded to your cell phone, if you are not online you pay like 1 cent a minute for the call forwarding (to SKpye) plus your cell phone's charges.

By online, I mean you are actually signed into Skype. You can have your computer on and connected to the internet without logging in to Skype.

Skype also works world-wide. You can if you are overseas, you can have a local Skype number for the parents, wife, girlfirend, etc. They make a local call. If you aren't logged in - you can have the number forwarded to a hotel, BOQ, etc. For most countries it's still only 2 or 3 cents a minute. It will work from anywhere you can get an internet connection.

There are some countires that are more expensive for you to call out on Skype Out. The prices are listed on the website.

I was in France for 3 weeks on business. I talked to my daughter in San Diego every night for at least 30 minutes over Skype. It cost me a little over $14 for the entire 3 weeks.

I know a lot of guys flying commecial world-wide and they all use Skype.

 

[Brett327]

I talked to my daughter in San Diego every night for at least 30 minutes over Skype.

Did I hear daughter in San Diego? How about hooking a shipmate up? She doesn't have youre figure, does she?

Brett

 

[HAL Pilot]

Did I hear daughter in San Diego? How about hooking a shipmate up? She doesn't have youre figure, does she?

Brett

You pedophile - she's 10!

 

[Brett327]

You pedophile - she's 10!

Hey, had to ask. I'll put her in the tickler file for 2015.

Brett

 

[HAL Pilot]

Hey, had to ask. I'll put her in the tickler file for 2015.

Brett

I'll warn her - thanks for giving me a 9 year warning to ensure her geezer-defense skills are up to speed..

 

[ChunksJR]

www.Skype.com - it's cheaper than Vonage and does not require any special hardware for the computer. Plus it goes where you go.

Use Skype In / Skype Out. You can get up to 5 local numbers and have them forwarded to your cell phone (you can change the number whenever you want). It's $38 a year or $12 for 3 months for Skype In and it includes voice mail. If you are online, it rings on your computer and you talk thruough its mic & speakers (like MSN messenger). If you have the calls forwarded to your cell phone, if you are not online you pay like 1 cent a minute for the call forwarding (to SKpye) plus your cell phone's charges.

By online, I mean you are actually signed into Skype. You can have your computer on and connected to the internet without logging in to Skype.

Skype also works world-wide. You can if you are overseas, you can have a local Skype number for the parents, wife, girlfirend, etc. They make a local call. If you aren't logged in - you can have the number forwarded to a hotel, BOQ, etc. For most countries it's still only 2 or 3 cents a minute. It will work from anywhere you can get an internet connection.

There are some countires that are more expensive for you to call out on Skype Out. The prices are listed on the website.

I was in France for 3 weeks on business. I talked to my daughter in San Diego every night for at least 30 minutes over Skype. It cost me a little over $14 for the entire 3 weeks.

I know a lot of guys flying commecial world-wide and they all use Skype.

SO THAT'S WHY MY VONAGE IPO STOCK TANKED?! DAMN IT!

 

[Schnugg]

Concur with using Skype. Used it for the last year to talk around the world dirt cheap. Also have an incoming number that is local to my home in the states and voice mail.
Cheers,
G

 

[Goober]

Yep, and Skype just sent me an email they'd credited me w/ an hour of free international calling. They're a pretty sweet deal.