Punting Phone with Whatsapp ability

[summernirvana]

Does anybody know what are the pay-as-you-go rates for texting on whatsapp?

I know it uses barely any data (per text) but do networks charge you like they charge you for phone calls?
As in, it doesn't matter if you ring someone for 1 second you still get charged the rate of a full minute.

I'm wondering whether if I text someone (via whatsapp) which would use a negligible amount of data, like next to nothing really, would networks still charge me the rate of a full megabyte of data?


My punting phone isn't the greatest, it's a Samsung from 2016, but I'm tempted to use whatsapp on it since I've noticed (from reading reviews on here) that working girls tend to use it a lot and even send photos of themselves to prove they are not bait-and-switch, help with directions with visual photos of their location, etc.

I'm skint, and Asda mobile have hiked up their prices from something like 6p a text to 35p a text late last year, and now I'm wondering if I could use whatsapp at home, and inquire potential punts without spending a dime using my home wi-fi/internet.
I'd only text them when I'm nearby to come in.

It'd save me a decent amount if so.

[southcoastpunter]

you can get PAYG sim only deals with enough data for punts etc from £5 per month. If you use it at home, and use wifi,  no data is used from your phone data contract. Generally using WA is cheap and imo, if you really can't afford that, you should ask yourself if you can afford a punt at all.

[summernirvana]

I've been avoiding monthly payments (attached to my credit card especially) when it comes to my punting phone for the longest time.
Even with the price hikes on PAYG sims, it's still probably worth it since I don't use it enough anyway. And I like the liberty of anonymously topping up my sim - with cash - as I please.


And yes, I probably shouldn't be punting at the minute, but I do like the hunt of seeing what's out there - and once every couple of months if I see something I like that reasonably priced, I go for it. Sadly I'm not seeing much on offer though.

[bops909]

Does your main phone have a mobile wifi hot spot capability and a good unused data allowance , ideally unlimited data?

Then you can run Whatsapp on the punting phone via wifi including texts photos and calls.

You'd need to check out the settings if you have whatsapp on both phones to be sure there's no leakage between the two but should work.

[summernirvana]

That's actually a great idea, and one I certainly had not thought of. Thank you.

My main phone has plenty of data and it does have hotspot capability. I'll be playing around with the two phones and trying it out to see how it works. I've just downloaded Whatsapp on my punting phone, as long as there's no interference between my two (personal and punting phone) whatsapp applications while using hotspot data from my main phone (which there shouldn't be I assume), I should be alright.

[southcoastpunter]

My main phone has plenty of data and it does have hotspot capability. I'll be playing around with the two phones and trying it out to see how it works. I've just downloaded Whatsapp on my punting phone, as long as there's no interference between my two (personal and punting phone) whatsapp applications while using hotspot data from my main phone (which there shouldn't be I assume), I should be alright.

you know what they say - "assumption is the mother of all fuck ups".

(i am not saying it does but when its important, don't just assume something)

[summernirvana]

Of course. But I think it makes sense; since I'll just be using my main phone as a wi-fi hotspot as one does with free internet access from a library or a cafe. Two different numbers, on two separate apps...I'll spend a day or two testing it out and see how it goes.

[jgillis]

If you have a newish Samsung, you can use Knox to maintain two independent WhatsApps on two numbers with only one sim in the phone.

Install and run the "secure folder" app. This is actually more than a folder - its a phone-within-a-phone. It has its own independent storage, app list, accounts, contacts, notes, calendar, permissions, notifications, gallery, browser, browser history, etc. It also runs on an encrypted partition.

Within Knox, login using a new / different gmail account. Install WhatsApp and go through the process of setting up a new account using a diff number on an old burner / temp phone. Deny permission to inspect the sim and instead say you will manually enter the verification code from SMS. Then the burner phone will get a SMS and enter that into the WhatsApp in Knox. You only need to make this link once.

That's it. You now have two WhatsApps running on one phone, each with its own number. You can switch off and stash the old burner / temp phone.

Inside Knox (Secure Folder) you can set notification permissions so that they don't show up on the main phone - only when inside Knox. Even if you set them to appear, it will show not details other than the app name. 

You can rename "Secure Folder" to anything you like and even change its icon. Samsung Knox is quite wonderful.

[PilotMan]

If you have a newish Samsung, you can use Knox to maintain two independent WhatsApps on two numbers with only one sim in the phone.

Install and run the "secure folder" app. This is actually more than a folder - its a phone-within-a-phone. It has its own independent storage, app list, accounts, contacts, notes, calendar, permissions, notifications, gallery, browser, browser history, etc. It also runs on an encrypted partition.

Within Knox, login using a new / different gmail account. Install WhatsApp and go through the process of setting up a new account using a diff number on an old burner / temp phone. Deny permission to inspect the sim and instead say you will manually enter the verification code from SMS. Then the burner phone will get a SMS and enter that into the WhatsApp in Knox. You only need to make this link once.

That's it. You now have two WhatsApps running on one phone, each with its own number. You can switch off and stash the old burner / temp phone.

Inside Knox (Secure Folder) you can set notification permissions so that they don't show up on the main phone - only when inside Knox. Even if you set them to appear, it will show not details other than the app name. 

You can rename "Secure Folder" to anything you like and even change its icon. Samsung Knox is quite wonderful.

I use Knox quite a bit, but not for another WhatsApp Account - can you make and receive WhatsApp calls - if so presume you would have to have Knox open to receive calls?

[theaccountant]

The one argument I have against using one phone with two WhatsApps or Dual Sims is simply how WhatsApp works.

Your main Civvie WhatsApp will have your real name and different permissions to your punting WhatsApp. The thing is if you start saving numbers on one phone and if the escort finds your real number (through some random circumstances) she can easily verify your civvie WhatsApp from your Profile Photo.

Say in your Civvie WhatsApp you have your permissions locked in where only your Contacts can see any of your details. If the Escort is in your contacts, then there you go.

And most have said on here. Buy a cheap smartphone with an app store or use one of those second-number apps like Hushed and call it a day.

[jgillis]

I use Knox quite a bit, but not for another WhatsApp Account - can you make and receive WhatsApp calls - if so presume you would have to have Knox open to receive calls?

Yes, you can make and receive WA calls. If you've setup permissions, you can get a ring tone even when Knox is not open. But this is risky obvs.

[jgillis]

Your main Civvie WhatsApp will have your real name and different permissions to your punting WhatsApp. The thing is if you start saving numbers on one phone and if the escort finds your real number (through some random circumstances) she can easily verify your civvie WhatsApp from your Profile Photo.

Knox maintains two separate and independent contact lists. There is no way to mix the two up or traverse from one to the other.

I personally like the assurance of having one phone, which I can confidently hand over to anyone unlocked.

[SALIBA]

goodness me, you could literally pick up any used touch screen smart phone and it'll have whatsapp capabilities. 

[jgillis]

I really don't understand why anyone would want to maintain two handsets. Hide one somewhere. Charge them both. When it takes 10 mins to set it all up on one handset. Especially when it's more secure and easier to manage and simple to maintain.

[big-al93]

goodness me, you could literally pick up any used touch screen smart phone and it'll have whatsapp capabilities.

Not quite true. Old windows phones lost whatsapp support, and I think some of the earlier versions of android did as well, think needs to be at least android 6, might be more now. Not that I use it, but I recall having to arrange new phones for my parents because whatsapp was going to stop working.

[JontyR]

I really don't understand why anyone would want to maintain two handsets. Hide one somewhere. Charge them both. When it takes 10 mins to set it all up on one handset. Especially when it's more secure and easier to manage and simple to maintain.

It only takes that handset 10 seconds to get swiped. And explaining that away could be more difficult than explaining an old phone floating around in a drawer.

[PilotMan]

It only takes that handset 10 seconds to get swiped. And explaining that away could be more difficult than explaining an old phone floating around in a drawer.

Swiped? I'm not sure I understand what you're getting at. Can you elaborate.

[jgillis]

It only takes that handset 10 seconds to get swiped. And explaining that away could be more difficult than explaining an old phone floating around in a drawer.

Unless you are GCHQ, you cannot access the Knox partition or get passed the biometrics. Trust me its the simplest and most secure option.

[big-al93]

Swiped? I'm not sure I understand what you're getting at. Can you elaborate.

I think he means stolen, as in either by the SP (maybe while in the shower), or by being set up to be robbed. Much less hassle to lose an expendable handset than the latest greatest £1k+ handset and the trouble of reporting it stolen, having to replace and set up that replacement for your real life.

[PilotMan]

I think he means stolen, as in either by the SP (maybe while in the shower), or by being set up to be robbed. Much less hassle to lose an expendable handset than the latest greatest £1k+ handset and the trouble of reporting it stolen, having to replace and set up that replacement for your real life.

Or swiped by his missus?

[theaccountant]

Or swiped by his missus?

We shall refer to this cautionary tale by our fellow Mr Singh. May he rest in peace ⚰️ 🪦 😴

https://www.ukpunting.com/index.php?topic=374231.0

[JontyR]

Unless you are GCHQ, you cannot access the Knox partition or get passed the biometrics. Trust me its the simplest and most secure option.

Big Al interpretted me correctly.

I've absolutely no problem with someone wanting to deal with this issue with some internal gizmo, whatever suits the individual.

I'm just from the school of "only take what you need to a punt". The puntingwiki here suggests that you do not take valuables with you.

If I ever find myself in a situation where someone forcefully suggests I hand over my phone and wallet I will happily turn them over, get my ass out of there knowing I've lost basically fuck all and I have no reports to make (beyond a warning on here) and no excuses to engineer. I'd just head off to Cash convertors, get another burner - might see someone trying to cash mine in.