What Is a 10-Minute Phone Number, and Is It Right for You?

Here’s a rhetorical question for you: What do you use your phone for? The common answers are for shopping, social media, and texting. 

Now, let’s ask this. What do you use your phone number for, and is your data privacy at risk?

From the time of invention in the 1800s through the late 1900s, phones allowed people to communicate farther than just down the block from the convenience of their homes. The catch? Most had one phone number tied to a wired, immobile phone.

Immobile turned to mobile fast, almost at the speed of light. Inspiration was built as people were hungry for phones modeling Captain Kirk’s communicator in “Star Trek” or Neo’s Nokia banana phone in “The Matrix.”

Fast-forward to today, the age of Generation Alpa, and ask the question differently: Who do you give your phone number to, and why? 

The answers range from a friend or family member to signing up for a website login, applying for a job, or just because you received a prompt. Whether you realize it or not, you are bartering your personal information, handing it over at no cost to gain access or reap a reward. 

Are you prepared for the possible consequences? Whether you answer yes or no, what is most important is that your information stays safe. 

What Is a 10-Minute Phone Number?

A 10-minute phone number is exactly what the name suggests: a short-term free phone number with 10 minutes of talk.

Depending on the service provider, temporary phone numbers come with a list of benefits, including:

Freedom From Spam Calls and Unsolicited Marketing

We all get calls from spam callers. They may present themselves on Caller ID as an unknown caller, or it may list them as potential spam. 

Worse are the ones that make it through the Caller ID with the phone number listed and an area code similar to your private line. Then, they call over and over again, not taking the hint that you rejected their incoming call the last several times!

This is where the 10-minute free phone number comes in as a cowboy to save the day from the villain. 

Replace the Clutter With Cleanliness

Even after sending spam calls and robocalls to voicemail, they still don’t disappear. They leave a trail of bread crumbs, ending up in your voicemailbox.

In addition to the voice messages, you may be required to undergo SMS online verification or two-factor authentication to access a website. You’ll either receive a phone call or an email or text with the code to enter to verify that you are who you say you are.

Voicemails and SMS text messages are easily missed when they pile up. Or if you read it and get sidetracked on something else before realizing you were supposed to respond. 

Having a 10-minute phone number gives you the upper hand, especially when you have control over which calls and SMS messages go to your primary number and which go to your disposable phone numbers.

Keep Social Media Fun While Securing Your Data Privacy

Only a few and far between that you talk to keep their lives private anymore. Can you believe that 72% of the population of U.S. adults use social media? 

Social Media dug its roots, that’s for sure. It extends from YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Nextdoor, and more with usage increasing year over year.

Higher usage equals a higher probability that a hacker or a scammer may be stalking your account like a shark does its prey, waiting for the right opportunity to strike. 

The plan is to deter the hacker and make their plan crumble. Having a 10-minute phone may be the solution to the problem. Create an alias to reduce your footprint on phone numbers and emails.

Ten-minute phone numbers alleviate part of the stress of not knowing who you may be going to meet from the Facebook marketplace to buy or sell an item. If they are untrustworthy, your data remains secure as they have a temporary number, not your private number.

Two-Factor Verification and Multi-Factor Authentication

In a continued effort to keep the people safe, even more layers are being spread on the cake, one over the other. Two-factor verification surfaced in the late 1990s, and like all other technology, it continues to evolve.

With the two-factor verification, it is possible that instead of an email, phone call, or text message, you’ll be asked to provide a password from a token (either physical or electronic). 

Multifactor authentication can include:

• Push notifications: Push notifications are prompts to enter an app or website and approve or release a log-in attempt.
• One-time passwords: One-time passwords are sent to your phone number and then input into your login page. Don’t forget that there is a timer that counts down and refreshes the verification code, typically every 60 seconds.
• Biometrics: This option is rarely used today but has potential for use and growth throughout the year. Biometrics uses fingerprints, facial recognition, and voice recognition.

Even email service providers have security measures in place to make it more difficult for culprits to break through. 

Take Gmail as an example. Not only can you add a secondary phone number option via Google Voice, but you can also add recovery emails as a layer of security should someone try to breach your account. 

Keep Your Friends Close and Your Acquaintances on a 10-Minute Free Phone Number

Meeting new people is a fun way to expand your social circle, network, and maybe even meet the love of your life — but you don’t want to give your personal information out to just anyone. Before that handsome stranger becomes your new BFF, give them your temporary number as you get to know them.

What Is a Burner Phone?

Burner phones have earned a storied reputation thanks to the entertainment industry, but they’re not just for spies. These disposable, temporary phones are real and function just like any other phone, but they can be “burned” at your command.

Burner phones are used in the movies to aid characters in a quick getaway if they’re being chased or to make a call they don’t want to be traced. The character simply throws away the device or destroys it, and the plot continues.

In the real world, ordinary people, just like you, use Burner phones for protection. How can you keep your doors locked on your mobile phone, maintaining your privacy and anonymity? 

Burner phones or Burner apps allow you to benefit from the anonymity of a burner number without having to ditch your beloved personal phone. Best of all, unlike 10-minute numbers, these phones are often refillable and can be used as long as you want them.

Explore more about Burner apps and what they have to offer below. 

What Is the Purpose of a Burner Number?

Approximately 97% of Americans in 2024 own or have access to a mobile phone. These drive internet traffic with how easily accessible they are, to the point of addiction, as they are strapped to the hip, figuratively speaking. 

According to Statista, in 2021, an estimated 53.4 trillion MBs of mobile data were used in the USA as texting and calling trended upward, and this trend continues today.

Burner phones and apps are the real-world equivalent of action film characters’ quick getaways. They allow the user to have one or more temporary phone numbers. They work with SMS messages, too!

Just like can have a wardrobe full of clothes to change into depending on the occasion, with Burner phones and apps you can organize your phone number and disposable phone numbers based on your lifestyle. 

Here are a few examples:

• Are you searching for a date on an online service or website, such as Tinder, and trying to avoid a fake profile? Scammers exist, but Burner phone numbers keep them away from your real phone number.
• Are you using one phone for both your personal affairs and your business? Burner phone numbers keep you organized and in control, allowing you to separate the two.

How Do You Use Burner Numbers?

Think simplicity! Burner phones and apps allow you to call and text just as you would with your real phone number, but with anonymity. This way, when you get that sixth sense about someone, you can still give them a chance.

The Burner apps are easy to download and are available on Android and iOS devices. If you are leaning on Burner phone over the app, think about how you plan to use it. 

• Do you need built-in memory to store images or videos? Or would you prefer to save them on your SD card?
• Do you need to provide the SIM card, or does the mobile network provider include it? 
• Which plan do you go with, prepaid or continued service?

Which Temporary Phone Number Will You Pick? 

Your new number is in your control. It’s not a random assignment phone providers typically offer when signing up for cell service. You can stay within your area code or explore beyond it all at the click of a button.

That’s it: Once you’ve selected the temporary phone number of your choice, you are ready to stay off the grid as long as you need to. When you finish with the number, dispose of it and move on. 

Burner Phones and In-App Calling

Next question: how can you use Burner phones? The most obvious answer is on your device. 

There are other options, though, such as WhatsApp, which is not associated with a device or hardware. These are also known as virtual phone numbers.

WhatsApp is a free service that keeps people connected through a Wi-Fi connection across the globe. There is no need for a cellular data network to send text messages or to make phone calls. As a bonus, international calling is often included, where many providers charge premiums to extend the service to a plan.

Businesses and business owners often use virtual phone numbers to communicate through Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or other voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) applications. 

Virtual phone numbers tap into the cloud, making it a breeze to work from any location without the fear of an unexpected phone bill at the end of the month.

Burner apps function the same, using VoIP so that you can make inbound and outbound calls with your internet connection. As calls come in, Burner apps identify them and then re-route them to your temporary number, making it more difficult to trace.

When searching for the Burner app that suits your needs, consider the options available. There are bundled services providing additional benefits to your plan, such as:

• Third-party integrations with Slack, Dropbox, and more.
• Auto-reply functionality
• Call forwarding
• Spam blocking
• Ad-free

Burner Apps and International Calling

Burner apps are readily available in the USA and Canada. Some reach Australia, too; it all depends on the app selected for use.

Does that limit the use of international calling? No, as long as the connected device is set up with an international data plan, the service should work as intended.

Germany, home to Okterbest, and France, home of Le Louver and the Eiffel Tower, both have consumers who are capable of having a temporary mobile number.

Are you visiting India soon? 10-minute phone numbers are available there, too. To get started, you’ll need to enroll for the temporary phone number and then use SMS verification to confirm that you are the one placing the request.

Sending SMS Messages

It’s okay to have a preference to use the SMS messaging system versus making outbound phone calls. You don’t even need a SIM card to move one space forward on the board. 

Burner apps are available to make life more simplified. They house multiple accounts in one place, giving you, the owner, the ability to categorize them as you see fit and manage them accordingly. 

Why Use a Burner Phone or App Instead of a VPN?

There are other options advertised that boast about keeping your information secure. Take a virtual private network (VPN) as an example. 

VPNs sweep away the footprints from the internet that you leave behind. It re-routes your connection. For example, you may appear as if you are at the coffee shop versus at the work office. 

Depending on how you use the internet, this may be a match. You don’t have to select only one form of security, though. You can add layers, such as:

• Removing the ability to auto-connect to Wi-Fi
• Converting IP addresses to URLs through an encrypted Domain Name Servers (DNS)
• Burning your digital fingerprints
• Keeping your passwords protected through a password manager
• Use two-factor authentication
• Sticking to brands you trust and are familiar with
• Disabling GPS so your device is not one step ahead of you

Still, we’ve saved the best for last: Getting a second free phone number using a phone number app without dishing out the added cost of a new line at cell providers. Sounds like a no-brainer to us.

Stay Safe and Stay Connected

Release the fear of your information getting into the wrong hands and protect your identity. Studies show that cybercrime losses reported in 2023 equaled $12.5 billion. 

Be the main actor in your real-life big-screen production, reducing the probability of becoming a part of the statistics. There are no contracts associated with the services to sign-up for, as they are eligible to be canceled at any time.

Think ahead to a happy ending, and remember Burner phones and apps follow federal guidelines to operate legally. In lamens terms, don’t do anything that could result in an officer at your doorstep.

Sources:

Cell Phone Statistics 2024 | ConsumerAffairs

Americans Keep Calling and Texting as Data Use Explodes | Statista

The Evolution of Social Media: How Did It Begin, and Where Could It Go Next? | Maryville Online

A Record $12.5 Billion Lost to Internet Crime in 2023 | CNET