What is the issue (paranoia?) with giving a phone number to someone?

[byegad]

I'm surprised so many people still have home landlines.
We were offered one recently by Virgin media as I signed up to their broadband, but I said to the engineer not to bother with a phone cable.
He gave us the number though and said it's not uncommon not to have a landline fitted.

Yes, I'm currently running a covert campaign to persuade Lady Byegad that we don't need a landline, By renewal time next year I hope to have won.

 

[Fnaar]

I'm another who dislikes the phone. Much prefer email via PC keyboard. Text is OK but mobile phone screens are too small for my big fingers.

When I'm at home, I text and WhatsApp from my laptop. (but I'm also fine doing it on my mobile)

 

[Ming the Merciless]

So called digital natives will get shock when they are older with arthritis and suddenly find they can't use the tech they grew up with.

 

[icowden]

By the time they are older they will just be saying "ok google - cook me a shepherds pie"...

 

[Ming the Merciless]

By the time they are older they will just be saying "ok google - cook me a shepherds pie"...

To which the reply will be fark off can't Alexa or Siri do it?

 

[icowden]

Sure it's not "I'm sorry Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that..." ?

 

[cyberknight]

I used to know a plasterer a bit like that - the unluckiest man in the world. He broke about 3 appointments because his wife/daughter/a.n.other relative had just had a car crash...

Of course and its sad , i was talking in general when every person that is supposed to turn up suddenly has that sort of situation apparently ............. .

 

[night cycler]

When I'm at home, I text and WhatsApp from my laptop. (but I'm also fine doing it on my mobile)

Whatsapp from a Laptop? I use it on an android phone, but I downloaded it on to a Win10 PC as I was curious to see if it would run on that too. The win10 pc has other modern apps on so I assumed it would work. Does your lapstop have a SIM card in it? That may be the difference as Whatsapp needs a phone number.

 

[perplexed]

Of course and its sad , i was talking in general when every person that is supposed to turn up suddenly has that sort of situation apparently ............. .

Yes, sorry, I wasn't being quite clear - the plasterer I mentioned was not entirley believable. I think he'd forgotten who he'd told what to, so we came to the conclusion he was fibbing.

 

[Milkfloat]

Whatsapp from a Laptop?

https://web.whatsapp.com/ It is just a front end in a browser, your phone needs to be on the same wifi network. I use both a work and at home as it is easier and faster to type on a keyboard than a phone. I also use it when my phone is charging in another room.

 

[tamiya]

https://web.whatsapp.com/ It is just a front end in a browser, your phone needs to be on the same wifi network. I use both a work and at home as it is easier and faster to type on a keyboard than a phone. I also use it when my phone is charging in another room.

also handy if you need to upload pics from your PC's HDD to whatsapp chat or save same

 

[Fnaar]

Whatsapp from a Laptop? I use it on an android phone, but I downloaded it on to a Win10 PC as I was curious to see if it would run on that too. The win10 pc has other modern apps on so I assumed it would work. Does your lapstop have a SIM card in it? That may be the difference as Whatsapp needs a phone number.

I use WhatsAppWeb
And for laptoppy sms I use https://www.mysms.com/
Both seamless in tandem with my android phone

(no sim in laptop)

 

[the_mikey]

A friend has two offspring, both recent graduates, who hate talking on phones. They won't even answer the home landline.

They use Twitter/Instagram/FB/WhatsApp all the time though.

Nonetheless, they are both more than happy to undergo job interviews via online webcam.

I never answer the landline, I'm not entirely sure why it's there, other than it was provided by Virgin Media, it seems to be a portal for scammers.

 

[night cycler]

Fnaar, so there is no payment for sending sms via pc using sms.com? Just curious as most people including myself have unlimited tx on their phone regardless. I like to tinker with tech stuff sometimes.

 

[Fnaar]

Fnaar, so there is no payment for sending sms via pc using sms.com? Just curious as most people including myself have unlimited tx on their phone regardless. I like to tinker with tech stuff sometimes.

I think it just goes with whatever your contract allows (mine has no limit, so it's not an issue for me). Certainly there is no extra charge.