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Cringely Shows How to Get Free Cell Calls

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the all-depends-where-you-hop-on dept.

SafariShane writes "In this week's pulpit, Bob describes how to properly use new software from a company called IPDrum. Basically, you use the free mobile-to-mobile feature of any major carrier to call a dedicated cell phone attached to your computer. That call is then connected to Skype, allowing you to make free cell calls just about anywhere. Just how long till someone does this on a large scale, by overselling the dedicated lines, and starts selling true unlimited cell plans?"

13 of 222 comments (clear)

  1. Hmm by pHatidic · · Score: 3, Funny
    Just how long till someone does this on a large scale, by overselling the dedicated lines, and starts selling true unlimited cell plans?"

    I'm guessing Cringely has made a prediction

  2. A new acronym? by bfizzle · · Score: 5, Funny

    Talk about a hack...

    Makes me wonder how much delay there is between talking and the other party listening with the cell to cell to skype to skype to cell to cell.

    We have a new acronym c2c2p2p2c2c

    1. Re:A new acronym? by B3ryllium · · Score: 1, Funny

      You would probably still sound smarter than a large number of CNN and FOX News anchors and interviewees, however.

    2. Re:A new acronym? by Dun+Malg · · Score: 2, Funny
      Good point. On my Verizon service there is a noticable lag of almost one second (at times) within their network. So multiply that by send and recieve and add to that any delay in Skype, and you might have some bizarre conversations.

      I tried to make a tech support call to SBC internet services over Skype once. Take the Skype delay, and add the .75 second delay for the signal to go to the call center in India, throw in the inevitable "clipping" effect, plus the irregular language and hint of an accent of an ESL tech support guy (yeah, sure your name is "Mike"), and you just can't get anything communicated. I can't wait to add this to the mix!

      --
      If a job's not worth doing, it's not worth doing right.
  3. Phone Phreaking! by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 3, Funny

    I didn't know that Captain Crunch whistles work on cell phones.

  4. Sure it's free, you just ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... have to pay $60/month minimum for two-phone wireless service and 2c a minute to termine the call at a real phone.

    You've met "free-as-in-speech" and "free-as-in-beer" -- now meet "free-as-in-really-expensive"! Yayyyy capitalism!!

    1. Re:Sure it's free, you just ... by noidentity · · Score: 2, Funny

      It's the same free-as-in-"I built this server for free, and I'll show you how you can too... err well you already need to have the server and the time to set it up" that is showing up more often here on Slashdot.

  5. This is how long... by fishlet · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Just how long till someone does this on a large scale, by overselling the dedicated lines, and starts selling true unlimited cell plans?"

    Just longer than it takes for some shady lawmakers to sneak in a law to prevent that.

    --


    Blender And Linux Fan
  6. Re:I just tried this! Here is a transcript... by zztzed · · Score: 3, Funny

    Hey, cool, it's an English to Klingon translator!

  7. Another way by eugeneiiim · · Score: 5, Funny

    Another way to get free cell calls

    *ducks*

  8. Re:And then? by mythosaz · · Score: 3, Funny

    Cricket does the same thing here. Unlimited minutes, with long distance included plans. [No international though...yet.]

    $45/mo gets you unlimited calling, including US long distance.

    $30/mo gets you unlimited local calling.

  9. c2c2p2p2c2c = 16c^4p^2... by NotQuiteReal · · Score: 2, Funny
    ... I think that is the formula for crack, which Cringely must be smoking if he thinks this will be useful...

    I could be wrong about that formula.

    --
    This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.
  10. Weekly /. Features by hunterx11 · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's really great to read about what Cringely has to say. But I think I also need to know what Dvorak thinks about this.

    --
    English is easier said than done.