Not just locally on the device! There must be an error when calling or texting the number.

Data must work for internet for Signal, VoIP, etc.

This is for a UK PAYG SIM.

There should be no way for anyone to demand my number, or for me to leak it, or doing so should be irrelevant as it does not work.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    English
    13
    edit-2
    10 hours ago

    The only way is a data only SIM card.
    It won’t have a phone number for anyone to call or text.
    Of course you can’t make calls or texts either. You have to setup some kind of SIP service is you need to.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    14
    edit-2
    10 hours ago

    Don’t give people your phone number. Afaik signal now works without it.

    As a downside, you may find you are not as important for these other people as you think, people are under no obligation to accept you forcing your quirks on them.

    • Autonomous UserOP
      link
      fedilink
      English
      4
      edit-2
      6 hours ago

      I already have everyone on Signal.

      I am trying not to leak my data plan number to others, by for example accidentially tapping call back with the wrong SIM.

      • Mac
        link
        fedilink
        English
        19 hours ago

        In America, there is nothing that allows you to make that call/text to share that number for tablets. So I don’t see why this isn’t already a thing

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    711 hours ago

    AFAIK this is not possible for a working number. Failed dial tone and “text message not delivered” are handled on the carrier level, if you block a number then they’ll just get a “busy” tone when calling and nothing when texting. You can’t blanket reject everything while retaining data, unless you disconnect from cellular and only use WiFi.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      39 hours ago

      Yet Another Call Blocker does block all calls, that is my phone never rings, and I never see any notification of a call.

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        2
        edit-2
        7 hours ago

        Yeah but like I said, anyone who calls you will just hear the “busy” tone or direct to voicemail. They won’t get the “invalid number” tone like OP wants.

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        English
        28 hours ago

        That’s doing that locally on your device, not on the carrier network. It’s definitely a good solution for this problem though.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    28 hours ago

    I don’t think so. As providers assign a number to each subscriber, like even an Apple Watch technically has its own number.

    So the issue is the “way for anyone to demand my number “

    Oh. Perhaps a hotspot; and tether to it. And use WiFi wherever you can otherwise? “They” could demand your number but it couldn’t ring you.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    210 hours ago

    You could try turning on Do Not Disturb for all numbers, all the time. The calls and texts will technically still happen but you won’t be notified of them. You may be able to avoid voicemails if you never set it up. You’ll see all your texts if you ever open the app although you may be able to disable or remove it. (YMMV based on your particular phone.)

  • @Cheradenine
    link
    English
    211 hours ago

    Is this a statement, or a question?

      • @Cheradenine
        link
        English
        311 hours ago

        So you are asking if this can be done? Some providers have data only Sims like what you get in a hotspot, or you could turn on do not disturb.

          • @Cheradenine
            link
            English
            210 hours ago

            The one I had in my hotspot did not have a phone number attached. It was provisioned by the IMSI. This plan was cheaper than using my phone as a hotspot. I assumed that there was no phone number so you couldn’t game the system by getting this cheaper deal and popping the Sim into a phone.

            • @[email protected]
              link
              fedilink
              1
              edit-2
              8 hours ago

              I think they still have an associated number, just that it can’t be used for voice or sms (it may have changed, but the number was effectively the equivalent of an IP address in the telco system - it’s what all the switching relies on to route). They probably just don’t provision voice or sms for it.