ExtraPhone
Consumer and social
disposable phone numbers
SHOW HN2011
How HN took it
5 positive, 2 neutral or asking, 2 mixed, 5 critical, out of 14 comments about the project. Thread score 0.00.
Idea: 3 for, 3 againstExecution: 0 for, 2 againstPricing: 1 for, 0 againstDesign: 1 for, 0 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Neat, useful idea
From 3 comments
Great idea.
T_S_ on HNBrilliant idea, the image on your page describing it very well!
babo on HNCool idea. It also has other possible uses outside of giving it to potential stalkers. Adding basic analytics would make it useful for A/B testing offers on TV or in print media,…
SwellJoe on HN
Flushing and replacing numbers is appealing
From 1 comment
As someone who also uses GV as a "real" number, I love the option to flush your number and get a new one. It's like the voice equivalent of "cleaning house" on social networking…
manvsmachine on HN
Objections
Market is tiny; few people would give out numbers this way
From 1 comment
Tiny market, isn't it? How many geeky guy Android users are giving out their numbers at bars?
iPhoneJunkie on HN
Google Voice already offers selective blocking for free
From 1 comment
...Or you could use Google Voice in the same way for free. In fact, you can selectively block from GV (send certain callers to "number is no longer in service"), which makes it…
bitskits on HN
Price is high and per-credit pricing is confusing
From 3 comments
I built this using the Twilio API, which I really enjoy using. The app is a little expensive; I can lower the price later if I move to a different solution, for example my own…
dustball on HNFantastic. It's really hard to come up with a good pricing scheme. I've found that simple is better than cheap. If you can figure out a flat rate, or some other scheme that…
magicseth on HNPrice per credit? Very nice idea, and the page is a great sell. Definitely need a more useful developer website landing page, though.
Groxx on HN
Android Market page failed to load in some browsers
From 2 comments
Tried to access android marketplace using chrome and this is what I got :) http://i.imgur.com/ZpqWg.png
vijayr on HNChrome 11 on OSX gave me this: http://i.imgur.com/nUyaP.png
hucker on HN
Requests
Clearer pricing, such as a flat rate
From 2 comments
Fantastic. It's really hard to come up with a good pricing scheme. I've found that simple is better than cheap. If you can figure out a flat rate, or some other scheme that…
magicseth on HNThat's a very neat looking concept, and congratulations on getting it out there. I don't see any link between a dollar price and the purchase of credits, however - could you add…
jat850 on HN
UK or international support
From 1 comment
Does it work in the UK perchance?
antihero on HN
QR code for the app
From 1 comment
Do you have a QR code for this app? Market search doesn't find it for me (from the phone) and all QR codes I find on the web give me a 404.
moe on HN
Better developer landing page
From 1 comment
Price per credit? Very nice idea, and the page is a great sell. Definitely need a more useful developer website landing page, though.
Groxx on HN
Questions
Will the number get calls from the previous holder?
From 1 comment
Wouldn't I get phone calls from the disgruntled last person who had the phone number? I suppose even then at least it would be temporary ...
leot on HN
Does it work outside the US?
From 1 comment
Does it work in the UK perchance?
antihero on HN
Alternatives named
Google Voice
From 1 comment
...Or you could use Google Voice in the same way for free. In fact, you can selectively block from GV (send certain callers to "number is no longer in service"), which makes it…
bitskits on HN
SkypeOut numbers
From 1 comment
I dont know if this one does but what I did was get a SkypeOut number and used Skype to call out when I was in Barcelona to call my friends in the US. So at least you can call…
markszcz on HN
.tel domains for contact info
From 1 comment
I like it. A reviewer says, "shouting numbers in a crowded bar isn't a particularly fun sport". Exactly (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m50xrDcj0fc). I'm a big fan of the .tel…
wibblenut on HN