Hushed, the service by AffinityClick, has released an iOS app that now allows anyone to create disposable phone numbers — almost like having an unlimited amount of Google Voice numbers. The release comes after the company first unveiled the app for Android devices last January. Today, users can obtain as many portable phone numbers they want and simply dispose of them as they see fit — and the company says multiple devices are not needed.
Imagine those times when you’re signing up for newsletters, daily deals, or anything that might send you an email notification — some people might choose to have it be diverted to be delivered into a separate inbox just to be more organized (and to avoid spam). With Hushed, the same thing could be done with mobile numbers. Now you can have a number for work calls, another for personal, telemarketers, or that person you inadvertently gave your number to at the bar last night, but you secretly don’t want to respond to.
Along with the iOS app release, Hushed has also integrated a Calling Card feature that allows any user to activate phone lines by purchasing a pre-paid calling card from retailers. Europe and in North America will be the first markets where the cards will be available starting in the next few weeks.
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Justin Shimoon, AffinityClick’s CEO and co-founder, says that Hushed was created in order to provide users with a low-cost alternative to owning a second cell phone. While there are services such as Skype, TextPlus, and the like, he says that they are not tailored towards people who want a “private unique experience”.
Competing against the likes of Burner for iOS, the service offers users a measure of privacy for your phone, never allowing a caller to trace the communication back to the actual phone number. Hushed gives users the option of using as many phone numbers as they would like and once done, they can be destroyed.
With Hushed, you’ll be leasing these disposable numbers and can pick from among four timespans: 7 days, 30 days, 90 days, or 365 days. Each number comes with its own independent voicemail account. The app offers a “do not disturb” feature and comes with a PIN lock feature so no one can access your phone numbers or call history. According to AffinityClick, all calls are made through a mobile device’s WiFi or 3G/4G/LTE connection.
SMS messaging is also available with Hushed numbers, but only in the US, Canada, and the UK.
Rates for Hushed numbers start at $1.99 (the same as with the Burner app). However, each time an incoming or outgoing call is made, you will also be charged for that and those costs vary depending on which country you’re in, specifically for inbound and outgoing calls.
Currently, Hushed is available in one of 40 countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Hon Kong, Japan, the UK, Israel, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Bahrain, Dominican Republic, Lithuania, Malta, Peru, and Brazil.
Shimoon says that Hushed is using Twilio to help power its offering, but they are also working on their own API to allow for the integration of other VoIP providers. In doing so, he says that it will help bring more international phone numbers to its customers, as well as be more competitive on outbound calling rates.
Photo credit: Wathiq Khuzaie/Getty Images
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