Path: news.eternal-september.org!eternal-september.org!feeder3.eternal-september.org!weretis.net!feeder8.news.weretis.net!reader5.news.weretis.net!news.solani.org!.POSTED!not-for-mail
From: Richmond <dnomhcir@gmx.com>
Newsgroups: comp.mobile.android
Subject: Re: =?utf-8?Q?=E2=80=9CLocalhost_tracking=E2=80=9D?= explained. It
 could cost Meta 32 billion.
Date: Sun, 15 Jun 2025 09:49:21 +0100
Organization: Frantic
Message-ID: <86msa98k4u.fsf@example.com>
References: <eb8uhlxstr.ln2@Telcontar.valinor> <1om16wwki1x2j.dlg@v.nguard.lh>
	<da80ilxkfh.ln2@Telcontar.valinor> <102k0s5$pqa6$1@solani.org>
	<lpp0ilxs16.ln2@Telcontar.valinor> <86zfeagl07.fsf@example.com>
	<102lfng$22gg$1@nnrp.usenet.blueworldhosting.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain
Injection-Info: solani.org;
	logging-data="888081"; mail-complaints-to="abuse@news.solani.org"
User-Agent: Gnus/5.13 (Gnus v5.13) Emacs/28.2 (gnu/linux)
Cancel-Lock: sha1:XRKwC/s/5Et0RPwT8z4wrQw19Os= sha1:SMfPBopyLMPoaJiFiWZR0Vvdwa4=
X-User-ID: eJwFwYEBwDAEBMCVeF4YR6T2H6F3tNCY48FwLhcHLwsDXX8+txdaHl9yGkevsC1pIosJlfoBEksQYQ==

Marion <marion@facts.com> writes:

> Does Facebook provide free calls? Or do you mean WhatsApp instead?

Both Facebook and Whatsapp are owned by Meta. Meta is the problem. Meta
owns Instagram too.

>
> I get my free calls (in & out) with Google Voice (on the iPad only).
> (Google Voice on Android creates a Google Account on the device!)
>
> It calls any number (including POTS) and it receives from any number.
> And it sends the voicemail to an email address. All for free.
>
> But it won't call Europe for free.
>
> SO I use WhatsApp (with the separate dialer so I don't have WA
> contacts).  Everyone I know in Germany uses WhatsApp (which is one
> reason I use it).
>
> The other reason for WhatsApp (without the dialer) is that I get
> grandchildren and now great grandchildren videos daily and they're all
> messed up on my PUlseSMS Android messenger from the iPhone parents.

I don't know what individuals can do, but organisations shouldn't be
using these things and advertising "contact us with whatsapp, follow us
on facebook" etc. Meta breaks the law.

I have used Amazon Echo to make free calls, it is very tempting to do
when you want to phone the council and they stick you in a queue for
half an hour. Nothing is really free, you pay a price of some sort, if
not money then data. Voipfone is reasonable for calling landlines at
1.2ppm in the UK, but any company could be tempted to make a bit extra
from data. Calls to USA landlines (not Alaska) and mobiles 2p.