nesobriquet
Well-known member
Does anyone know if Yahoo Messenger and G Mail Call Phones, use the same technology?
Are they both considered a type of VoIP?
Are these calls fairly private? For example, could a person use that type of phone to call and order a pair of new tires from Pete and disclose the info on your credit card over the phone without putting your info at undue risk?
I have heard of technology that automatically turns itself on as a monitoring device when key words are used, even on a wired or cell phone line (terrorism being the extreme there obviously, or maybe law enforcement of some other sort).
Not that long ago (pre-digital) cell phones in rural areas used analogue long after city networks were switching over little by little to digital. Those frequencies were usually in the easily monitored 800 to 900 mhz spectrum. If you lived in a small community, (or not, but due to the shear amount of activity, is easier the smaller the community or closer to transmitting towers) and suspected your spouse of cheating, all you would have to do is use a scanner to monitor the cell frequencies during the time that you think they would be making their indiscrete arrangements, and catch them in the act. What might surprise you is the incredible range of which a scanner could receive the signal clear as day off the cell tower. 10 km easily, and often a lot more than that depending on terrain.
So, by now you might be thinking I've lost my tin-foil cap..but hold up.. consider first, that this scenario actually has already happened and I doubt very much it was isolated. In fact, I know of a case in which this very simplistic (and far cheaper than a PI) procedure was used as additional evidence to help fend off a huge divorce claim settlement and was able to support the innocent spouse/victim's case, (who had the money and was being made the victim of by a scheming spouse who engaged in infidelity).
Another potential issue of course, in using a PC phone, is the number that you call. Is it now going to be more prone to potential telemarketing or if a cell number, spam texts? A friend I asked said it would be no more prone to this than any landline number that is listed in a directory. I think this can even include cell numbers that are on a 'plan' too and may be found during an online search. There was some talk of that about a year ago, but now you never hear a thing about it, other than people still complain about getting spam texts and voice mail calls. G Mail now requires a cell number so that a code can be texted to it, in order to complete a G Mail email account. They claim that they don't sell or use that number, but I have heard that was BS and as soon as someone opened an account that way, their cell became way busier with spam. Has anyone found this out the hard way, themselves?
And let's say alongside your internet, you subscribe and are issued a phone number by your ISP, some of those plans are $12 to 15 extra per month. I have heard they offer unlisted numbers even and you can receive a phone call and have different voice mail or forwarding options. I believe those are definitely VOiP tech, but not sure if it differs from the Yahoo Messenger or G Mail Call Phone. Are those considered any more private or is there no difference?
I heard that RogersOneNumber uses a different type of tech than VOiP but must be sort of derivative of it still? One definite difference with whatever Rogers is using, compared to Y Mess phone or Call Phone, is you must have an account with Rogers for it to work.
I know there are some very intelligent IT types on the forum, so thought it would be interesting to hear some opinions on just how private is a PC type phone call and are some types more potentially private than others?
Are they both considered a type of VoIP?
Are these calls fairly private? For example, could a person use that type of phone to call and order a pair of new tires from Pete and disclose the info on your credit card over the phone without putting your info at undue risk?
I have heard of technology that automatically turns itself on as a monitoring device when key words are used, even on a wired or cell phone line (terrorism being the extreme there obviously, or maybe law enforcement of some other sort).
Not that long ago (pre-digital) cell phones in rural areas used analogue long after city networks were switching over little by little to digital. Those frequencies were usually in the easily monitored 800 to 900 mhz spectrum. If you lived in a small community, (or not, but due to the shear amount of activity, is easier the smaller the community or closer to transmitting towers) and suspected your spouse of cheating, all you would have to do is use a scanner to monitor the cell frequencies during the time that you think they would be making their indiscrete arrangements, and catch them in the act. What might surprise you is the incredible range of which a scanner could receive the signal clear as day off the cell tower. 10 km easily, and often a lot more than that depending on terrain.
So, by now you might be thinking I've lost my tin-foil cap..but hold up.. consider first, that this scenario actually has already happened and I doubt very much it was isolated. In fact, I know of a case in which this very simplistic (and far cheaper than a PI) procedure was used as additional evidence to help fend off a huge divorce claim settlement and was able to support the innocent spouse/victim's case, (who had the money and was being made the victim of by a scheming spouse who engaged in infidelity).
Another potential issue of course, in using a PC phone, is the number that you call. Is it now going to be more prone to potential telemarketing or if a cell number, spam texts? A friend I asked said it would be no more prone to this than any landline number that is listed in a directory. I think this can even include cell numbers that are on a 'plan' too and may be found during an online search. There was some talk of that about a year ago, but now you never hear a thing about it, other than people still complain about getting spam texts and voice mail calls. G Mail now requires a cell number so that a code can be texted to it, in order to complete a G Mail email account. They claim that they don't sell or use that number, but I have heard that was BS and as soon as someone opened an account that way, their cell became way busier with spam. Has anyone found this out the hard way, themselves?
And let's say alongside your internet, you subscribe and are issued a phone number by your ISP, some of those plans are $12 to 15 extra per month. I have heard they offer unlisted numbers even and you can receive a phone call and have different voice mail or forwarding options. I believe those are definitely VOiP tech, but not sure if it differs from the Yahoo Messenger or G Mail Call Phone. Are those considered any more private or is there no difference?
I heard that RogersOneNumber uses a different type of tech than VOiP but must be sort of derivative of it still? One definite difference with whatever Rogers is using, compared to Y Mess phone or Call Phone, is you must have an account with Rogers for it to work.
I know there are some very intelligent IT types on the forum, so thought it would be interesting to hear some opinions on just how private is a PC type phone call and are some types more potentially private than others?
