Any updates on "Phone number masking"?

[AedenThomas]

I have been waiting for "Phone number masking" from SimpleLogin for so long. Any updates on the matter? Also how does SimpleLogin plan to implement it? Is it like 1 virtual number per user or unlimited virtual numbers?

[nguyenkims]

@AedenThomas this is work in progress and we hope to have an alpha version at the beginning of next year.

The way it works is you can reserve a phone number from a pool of numbers for a certain time (1 hours, 1 day, etc) using a credit system. Premium accounts would come with some credits. During this time, all SMS sent to this number can only read by you.

Please note that this can change and the final version can be a bit different.

[erikkrieg]

I've heard Voice Over IP (VoIP) mentioned a few times as a possible solution for this use case. The main downside is that an Internet connection is required (mobile data can be used, though).

Has this been considered? Any nonstarters with this approach?

[leland359]

@erikkrieg unfortunately VoIP are handled different than cellular numbers. When a phone number is needed to verify identity, VoIP numbers and specifically excluded as being verification types that are usable -- it doesn't matter if VoIP is tried to be use via wifi or internet or otherwise. Yes, nonstarter unfortunately.

[erikkrieg]

@leland359 That's a bummer. Do you happen to know of any good article or other reference that delves into the details? No pressure, but if you do, I'd be very curious to take a look at it.

[leland359]

@erikkrieg Unfortunately I don't know of any such article, I just have a lot of experience of trying to do just that: to use VoIP numbers for verification, (or no number when I can), and when I really would like to use them for an account creation is when I get the feedback from the site saying I can't use a 'fake number' -- or 'VOIP number' -- or other error message. There seems to be something about the data bases being shared between cell phone companies and other groups -- take your website of choice -- and checking the number against it? I've read about it in a few places, where it's 'locked down', not sure how exactly. Ideally, I would only use services that don't require a phone number for verification as that leaves no choice but to support cell companies as last line of security defense, instead of myself setting that defense -- like with my security key for example, but then again, most people want to offload that burden, and the internet is fighting against fake account creation and has decided to go with cell phone company verified numbers because.... my guess is you need an id to create an account with a cell phone company? Hope this helps :), but I'm speculating here in part too.

[erikkrieg]

@leland359 Thanks for the extra context.

[002gRTEah3mRYH]

That is in private beta and is only available in the US. I can't seem to view their pricing (just directs me to join their waitlist) and found very little information of this product. I also don't trust that video because it looks sponsored.

That video has a affiliation link with reduction, so it is

[xsetiadi]

Any new update regardless of this feature?

[gmarkley-VI]

Please let us know status 2years later

[epoch-philosophy]

I am also wondering about an update on this. Phone relay is a super compelling feature.

[Schinken6]

I would love to have such a feature because recently I get bot calls once per week. I would like to add to the discussion something like cloaked (https://www.cloaked.com/)
I like how they handle this whole phone number situation it kinda feels like SimpleLogin but with numbers. I would totally use their service but the downside is it is only available in the USA.
I have also seen that Firefox Relay "Phone mask to protect your real phone number" wants to implement such a feature but it's still on the waitlist.

[leland359]

I just checked out their site https://www.cloaked.com/ , they don't advertise zero access encryption :(. They don't advertise end-to-end encryption :(. and in their privacy policy they give your data to third party service providers :(. They don't say how the phone number masking works, so it's just like other "masking" of phone number services which there are a lot of. I might be wrong on something here, on my recursive view, please lmk :).

[Schinken6]

thanks for your comment. You have valid points but since they only support america I still have to wait anyway.
Do you have any company in mind which you could recommend for usage in europe?

[leland359]

I'm not yet heard of a company this does this service well / privately in Europe either :/.