Skype hack for cell phone flakes
If you’re like me–and hopefully you’re not–but I simply cannot seem to keep my hands on my cell phone. And if I can, it’s not charged or I don’t have any reception. Or I’m a thousand miles away from the charger and can’t bring myself to buy (yet) another charger. It makes me feel crummy because I’m supposed to be all up on my technology. But I have recently come up with a solution that at least lets me catch my voicemail in a timely fashion.
First off, I got myself a skype-in phone number. Then, I have my phone set to forward if the phone is busy or turned off. That would be when I leave it in my car to die while I’m at the office all day. Or all the times it’s in my bag and I think it’s lost until I find it later. Or when it gets shoved into a relative’s shoe during a visit to my house and then the phone ends up across the country. For example.
Then, since I’m in front of my computer all day–or at least more often than I am with my phone–I get any voicemails that come in right away. And Skype is pretty good about letting you know who called with various alerts and so forth. For the return calls, since I favor landline reception, I just pick up the phone and call the number Skype has captured. But if I had a headset/mike, I could return the calls with a click of a mouse.
Even if you’re not a space case with your cell phone, this system is a good failsafe because sometimes people will, for example, drop a phone in a toilet, and you really can’t predict such a devastating event.
Now, if you have figured out solutions for forwarding text messages, I would really like to hear them, so throw them in the comments!
Nick Senzee writes on associations, social media, and staying (or attempting to become) organized.
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Comments
Joe says on June 19th, 2007 at 10:38 am
One word: CallWave
No need to pay for a SkypeIn number, CallWave has a FREE mobile phone voicemail replacement. You can get voicemails emailed to you and/or get SMS notifications of calls. If you download their software, you get alerted every time you have a call, and you can even FORWARD THE CALL TO YOUR OFFICE PHONE, any of 3 phone numbers that you choose.
This has come in very handy for me, since I don’t get cellphone reception in the office. The free plan limits these incoming calls to 20 minutes, but do you often stay on the phone that long? If you do, you can just let your caller know and plan on calling them back, or ask them to call back on your office number right away.
The only drawbacks for me are that I no longer get the little icon voicemail notification on the phone (unless I have CallWave send me SMS notifications), and that I use my plan minutes when checking my voicemail from my phone. However, as long as I use the software, I never need to call the voicemail.
Of course, you can tackle this with GrandCentral as well – one number to give out that will ring all of your phones with one centralized voicemail. They promise to always have a free level, and all premium features are currently included in the free beta. The problem is that you have to tell everyone to call a new number.
Joe says on June 19th, 2007 at 10:40 am
Oh yeah, with CallWave you can also screen your calls by listening in as the caller leaves the voicemail message, and you can even decide to answer and interrupt their message to talk to them.
ross says on June 19th, 2007 at 11:43 am
I second the CallWave comment — it’s easily the better choice.
You can have your voicemail sent as an attachment to your email, or listen to it online, or have it sent as a text message.
samantha says on July 4th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
email me if anyone can find a way to read your text messages from your computer. im curious to do that as well. xape.executiveproducer@yahoo.com
ZOverLord says on December 31st, 2007 at 12:21 am
MyToGo for Skype and MySapceIM allows ANY Phone to gain access to Skype and MySpaceIM calling services, this includes calling Skype Names and MySapce Friends for FREE, checking Skype Voice Mail for FREE as well as using Skype rates for both local and long distance calling, and does not require any software to be installed on the phone. MyToGo for Skype is FREE as well, for more information please go here:
http://www.testing.onlytherigh.....amp;sid=58
phonewizINC says on March 23rd, 2008 at 5:13 am
I am a phone god with phone wiz inc special this month $10 to activate any phone to any carrier for two months ( get 3 months for 25) email contact info phone # and or a email add to get back to you. Note* CODE AND INSTALLATION STEPS WILL BE SENT WITHIN 30 MIN OF ORDER BY EMAIL BUT NOT ACTIVATED TILL WE RECIEVE PAYMENT accepted payments include MONEY ORDER, CASH ,MONEY TRANSFER, WESTERN UNION, OR MONEY GRAM (RECCOMENDED)FOR IMEDIATE ACCTIVATION OF CELL PHONE- TO ORDER SEND EMAIL TO phonewizinc@live.com for immediate cell phone service for 2 to 3 months aka (blow up phones) ask about our ring tone codes and mp3 payer soft ware. Thank you ceo of phone wiz INC. Danald Rizzer. phone wiz INC> just making a fair call!!!!!
jana says on August 20th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
nothing link in above is working. its utter waste