Comments on: New ‘Burner’ app lets iPhone users create temporary, disposable phone numbers

By: TheConfuzed1

TheConfuzed1 — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 14:17:39 +0000

Yes. Let’s arrest them for it!

Seriously, there is nothing illegal about this. Ever hear of ‘innocent until proven guilty’?

By: Troy

Troy — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 23:28:55 +0000

For a minute there I thought Apple was going to include a mini disc slot (remember those) in the next iphone.

By: Bream Rockmetteller

Bream Rockmetteller — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 21:42:28 +0000

This is exactly what I use Google Voice for. It’s a “spam” number just like GMail is my “spam” mail account.

By: Sucker

Sucker — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 20:37:10 +0000

I can actually think of legit uses for that app, especially for those people who are cell-phone only, don’t live in their native area code, and use their cells for business.

By: G4Dualie

G4Dualie — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 20:27:48 +0000

I now own the app.

Who wants to unload unwanted items in the classifieds, using your personal number for an item that sells on day one, but the phone rings non-stop for another week!

Dating is another cool use. Giving out phone numbers that expire will also make these developers a lot of gitas.

By: NDW

NDW — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 19:50:37 +0000

No need to worry about the scum bags of the world using this anomalously. As the ‘burn’ number has to know what the real world number is to be able to put the call through there will always be a trail back to the perp.
I’m already thinking this will be great for me when using Freecycle in the UK. When I offer or collect something I always feel uncomfortable giving my phone number out to a stranger, this app wil solve that.
Also great for going on dates, give the guy/gal your ‘burn’ number & if they don’t turn out to be the one then burn it and never hear from them again.

By: Predrag

Predrag — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 19:50:02 +0000

There are already many services out there that offer free phone numbers (Google Voice, eVoice, privatenumber, etc). This isn’t anything new.

What’s new is that you can now install an app on your iPhone and access those services from a cellphone, rather than from a desktop computer.

This has been in existence for (at least, as far as I know) six years (which is when I last used it when I was selling my old apartment).

There is no doubt that many people from the other side of the law have been using this convenience for their “business”, but there is no denying that the service is very convenient precisely for the kinds of transactions they mention (buying / selling on eBay / craigslist, etc). You create a number, put it in your ad, when the transaction is complete, you get rid of it, and nobody ever gets your private number.

By: Bandit Bill

Bandit Bill — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 19:31:09 +0000

I guess they’ll have to ban pay as you go phones at the same time. /s

By: Stuart Maddison

Stuart Maddison — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 19:26:29 +0000

the app is ideal for…. drug dealers, criminals, kiddie fiddlers….

I’d bet the authorities will be all over this like a rash in no time.

By: Mtnmnn

Mtnmnn — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 19:20:13 +0000

MDN, everything is traceable on the Internet. There’s really no anonymity on the ‘net.