VOIP Providers

[dngray]

Discussed in https://github.com/privacyguides/privacyguides.org/discussions/466

^{Originally posted by ph00lt0 December 14, 2021}
We should add a recommendation to use VOIP numbers for phone calls. A couple of reasons:

• You can use multiple numbers on one(or multiple) devices
• You will not be vulnerable to broad-com band attacks
• Your location stays private when making a call

IntelTechniques covered their solution on his website: https://inteltechniques.com/voip.suite.html

Project is here: https://github.com/0perationPrivacy/VoIP

Another solution I am aware of: https://jmp.chat/

It should obviously be made very clear that calls and SMS are not private. I am however certain that everyone will need both of them from time to time, and it's still worth it to take measures in this area as well.

[dngray]

In general, VOIP providers are a topic that gets asked about quite regularly, particularly on Reddit and elsewhere.

It might be useful having an explainer which lists a few providers. I think the only way we can really measure one provider against another, is to look at the privacy policy.

Such an article should come with warnings that SMS is not private and that we do recommend more secure E2EE methods for personal communication.

[sith-on-mars]

MySudo for those who with stock Android/iOS. You can't use it on Graphene or Calyx unless you port your account from a device with stock ROM. Good user experience and good price.

JMP.chat for those who don't want to be restricted to stock OS. Open source, require setting up a XMPP/Matrix account. More expensive and will further increase the price by late 2023.

Other providers I wouldn't consider them very privacy friendly or require too much tinkering.

[dngray]

In the past I've used telnum.net https://telnum.net/pay-with-cryptocurrencies/ which takes crypto.

[nopeitsnothing]

You should check this list by Nate @ The New Oil: https://thenewoil.org/en/guides/less-important/voip/