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Comment by jstanley | Hacker News Reader

(Shameless plug coming up)

Not listed in the article: I run https://smsprivacy.org/

We don't require any identifying information for signup (not even an email address). We take payment in Bitcoin.

We have cheap virtual numbers available where our upstream provider blocks signup verification codes, and more expensive "physical numbers" available to receive verification codes.

Featured on Indie Hackers here: https://www.indiehackers.com/businesses/sms-privacy

Revenue has now grown to nearly $1200/mo.

Ask me Anything!

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How are physical numbers different from virtual numbers? What would be the advantage of using a physical number? Why do they cost 120 times as much as a virtual number? How is this better than using Twilio?

(Virtual number is $5 a month and physical number is $20 a day)

Good questions. Ideally the website would make this clearer upfront.

Our upstream provider of virtual numbers filters out verification codes from services like Google, Facebook, and Twitter.

The advantage of using a physical number is that no messages are filtered out.

They are more expensive because they are more expensive to me. And the typical customer only uses a physical number for one day, where the minimum purchase time for a virtual number is one month, so the effective price to the customer is "only" 4 times as much.

It's better than Twilio because Twilio filter out verification code messages, and because Twilio don't allow anonymous signup or Bitcoin payment.

Thanks for the detailed reply.

Is Twilio your upstream provider?

I've never used this type of service, but I have a question. How do you forbid me from sending a sms to a high toll number, i.e. the ones from where you would buy your bus ticket?

I don't! I didn't know that could happen. Feel free to try it and I'll see what I get billed...

Give me a way to top up my balance with physical gift cards (Starbucks, Subway etc.), pretty please?

I wouldn't recommend that to the service provider, those have very high level of fraud.

I have no plans to accept payment in anything other than Bitcoin, but can you please explain the advantage of paying for services with other companies' gift cards?

And how would it even work? Would you post the gift cards to the company, and then they'd add to your balance when they receive them?

How is it better for either the customer or the business, compared to Bitcoin?

Plus I hardly spend any money in either Starbucks or Subway, so I'd then presumably need to find someone to sell them on to.

Surely it would be easier for both parties if you posted physical cash than physical gift cards (customer doesn't need to buy the gift cards, and business doesn't need to sell them).

Sell these cards in paxful for bitcoins.

> Ask me Anything!

I usually pay Bitcoin with my mobile wallet. Could you add a QR code for payment? Thanks!

Been planning to do this for a while, I've done it now. Let me know how it works for you.

worked great

"payment in Bitcoin." For the win!

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