Traditionally, the telecommunications sector has been dominated by closed networks, with users locked into particular networks by both their hardware and physical identities. For decades, the most important task for any tech-savvy consumer has been network unlocking - the removal of the digital shackles that kept a phone from working on a different network. But in 2016, the challenge of device freedom has evolved from a simple phone unlock to a virtualization of the network.
The GetTempNumber service has become an essential part of this revolution, providing a powerful interface for users to receive SMS multifactor codes (in a fully functional user interface) and, soon, the opportunity for users to buy permanent virtual numbers for individual use. Through the use of this service, users can "unlock" their identity from their devices, so that when the device is no longer network-specific, it can access the network through a software-defined interface rather than a physical card.
The Evolution of Device Independence
To know where we are headed, let's look at where we've been. The "unlocking" movement stems from an interest in consumer rights. And when we buy an expensive phone, we expect ownership of the hardware. But smartphone locks on your phone kept the hardware from actually belonging to you, restricting the usefulness of the hardware you had invested in while travelling or switching to a lower-cost service provider.
With the ease of unlocking devices, the SIM card was the final holdout for the carrier. An unlocked phone is nevertheless "locked" to a physical place. If you fly from London to New York, your unlocked phone is as good as dead unless you have the right piece of plastic or the right kind of money for the once terribly expensive international roaming plan. The change from a physical Billing Services Provider to a virtual one through the move to the eSIM virtual numbers is the next step in the liberation of the device. It's the last evolutionary step in unlocking our phones at the global forefront.
Why Virtualization Is the Ultimate "Unlock"
When a client seeks to unlock a mobile phone, they want flexibility. They seek the ability to jump networks for cost, coverage, or coverage constraints. Virtual numbers put this agility to the extreme.
Using a service such as GetTempNumber, the "unlocked" phone finally comes to fruition. No longer are you hunting down an international card office in the airport. You control your network from an online platform. This is especially important for the international executive, privacy advocate, and digital nomad.
Protecting the Liberated Device
A globally liberated device can be a force for good, but it also presents security risks. In the "Identity Theft 2.0" world, the phone number is the new thing sought by fraudsters. SIM-swapping, where an attacker uses your number to get your phone number ported to their phone, can occur even when your phone isn't unlocked.
Using virtual numbers provides "security abstraction". Using a virtual service to opt in to an SMS enables a wall. If you get a new virtual number from GetTempNumber to sign up for a new fintech service or social media platform, you are not sharing the "Master Key". Your "real" SIM (probably connected with your bank and with your government ID) is hidden. In 2016, this is the digital equivalent of compartmentalisation.
The Death of Roaming and the Rise of Geographic Arbitrage
The old telecommunication business designs its price structures around a "roaming tax", a cost of mobility. Roaming was the last obstacle to a cost-efficient phone. This model has been all but destroyed by virtual numbers.
By engaging in geo-arbitrage, the user can be a US, UK, or Canadian resident while residing in an area with a low cost of living. For the enterprise, it means offering "local" services to customers without the need for local offices. From the person's perspective, it means being able to retain a number at home for banking and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) and take advantage of all other data locally for low rates. This is not simply cost observation; it's the democratization of access.
Integrating GetTempNumber into the "Unlocked" Lifestyle
GetTempNumber is engineered to meet the demands of the Speed Zone of the internet. With it, users will be able to immediately receive the SMS code for account activation, obviating the need to store their primary phone number in potentially unfenced databases.
As the service gets ready to roll out its personal number system, device owners will have all they need. Imagine an unlocked iPhone that can support five virtual identities - one for work, one for travelling, one for shopping, and one for the family - each of which can be controlled via an intuitive App. This is device freedom at its finest: a network-independent and identity-independent phone.
The Green Case for Virtualization
Beyond the functionality, the virtualization of the network has a strong environmental imperative. Billions of plastic SIM cards are produced, packaged, and thrown away each year. SIM cards are made of PVC, silicon, and gold, and can be very hard to recycle.
Through the digitisation of SIM cards, we are part of a circular economy. An eSIM doesn't generate plastic or packaging and shipping waste. For the eco-friendly technology evangelist, the physical SIM is a step in the right direction to lower their e-waste footprint. This is one of the cases where technical sophistication and morality go hand in hand.
The New Standard of Connectivity
The days of device-only hardware and hardline identities are over. With the use of services such as GetTempNumber, users are gaining sovereignty over their digital communications. They must ensure they are communicating securely, remaining anonymous, and staying connected. Whether you are an adventurer, an entrepreneur, or simply value your privacy, virtualized telephony is the rebirth of the mobile phone. Write your own future - it is hardware-independent, borderless, and your choice. Take back your digital life now - remember, your phone is your phone, not your carrier's.