[rg111]

Maybe, not the answer you are you are looking for, but I replaced the phone, with a... phone, but without a SIM card.

So much peace now. I use VOIP through Telegram and Signal. I use email.

I get extremely fine-grained control over who can reach me, and when can I be reached.

I made this switch since February, 2020, and my life became better by 10-15% better automatically.

My phone hasn’t rang and I hadn't answered in the last 2.5 years. I love this.

So much better for mental health and wellbeing.

Now, I talk, but only with prior notice.

[asdfqwertzxcv]

I've done similar, except I still have a phone with sim card (and a number I don't even know) for the odd chance I need to make a call when out and about and for things like mapping walking/driving routes, etc. I'll probably get rid of the sim, like you, in the coming months.

I used the recent spat of telemarketers bombarding myself, friends and family all day to finally make the move. It's been really amazing because of all the benefits you listed. Now I communicate when I'm ready, keeping my phone on DND 24/7, not at the behest of other's whims.

I ported the number most people have to Voip.ms. All calls now go directly to voicemail, where the message says that due to telemarketers, I no longer answer, so leave a VM or message me on a messenger app if we know each other.

If I need to make or return calls for business or services, I either use VOIP.ms SIP settings on GS Wave for my old number when I'm on wifi or use the number my sim has attached to it, which I don't know or give out.

All calls to or from family or friends are either done through Telegram, Signal or Facetime. 99% of the time though, I communicate through text on those apps. 1% of the time someomeone will send an sms, which I see in my email app and reply at my leisure.

There's only been 2 issues so far:

- One of my friends is oldschool and prefers to call my number eventhough I've trained him to use Telegram. However, I don't get back to his calls quickly since I only check email twice a day, where his transcribed voicemails now go. Like training a puppy, I reinforce him messaging me on Telegram with quicker answers, so as of a few a weeks ago, he's started to solely message or voice/video call me through Telegram.

- My partner was at the grocery store and was annoyed they couldn't call and have me pick up instantly for a quick question. They brought up the, "What would happen in an emergency?" I told them that since there's a .01% that a call to me in the moment would make a lick of difference, it's not worth keeping the floodgates open for that one, minute edgecase. They actually agreed after thinking it over a few minutes.

[stoplying1]

I ported my number to Telnyx and then wrote 75 lines or less of JS. Now I have an Allowlist that rings straight through to my phone, a way to allow all calls during a time slot, and a menu that allows random callers to connect to me ONLY if they know the first letter of my last name.

Spam calls stopped very quickly, and moreover, have not really returned even after disabling it. I got off "the list" finally.

[asdfqwertzxcv]

Interesting! I am loving no calls across the board right now.

[Dracophoenix]

How did you route VOIP through Telegram and Signal? Don't you need a real phone number to sign-up?

[asdfqwertzxcv]

I signed up for both by using my voip number without issue.

[rg111]

I signed up with a number, and then got rid of it.