Internet-based calls never reveal a personal listing
Gillian Shaw
Sun
A small California company that makes it possible to place a non-long-distance call to anyone around the world as long as you have their e-mail address is bringing the service to Canada.
Jangl is one of a growing number of companies getting into the “social phone number” business that allows users to give out a phone number that is disposable so that callers never need know that most coveted piece of information — your personal phone number. It essentially lets you use your phone with the same anonymity of a Hotmail account.
On Wednesday, Jangl announced it is expanding its service and making it available throughout the U.S. and Canada, as well as 29 other countries.
“What the new service is about is it’s creating another on-ramp for people to engage in Jangl,” said Michael Cerda, the company’s co-founder and chief executive officer.
Jangl’s new service lets users place calls, send text messages and send or receive voice mail by using the Internet rather than traditional phone networks. Callers are given a local number so no matter where the person is that they are calling, they don’t incur long-distance charges: Just enter a person’s e-mail address, leave them a voice mail on a line provided by Jangl, and both parties will be given a local number to call to talk over the company’s lines.
“What Jangl.com service is — say I want to call somebody and I don’t have their number but I have their e-mail, or they live in another part of the world and I want to call them on a number that is local to me.”
Cerda said as well as saving money on long-distance charges, Jangl users can protect their privacy by connecting to callers through a Jangl number that sends an email message alerting them to the incoming call. It also allows calls to go straight through from accepted callers, much like social networking websites allow you to add friends and contacts.
If someone tries to call who you don’t want to talk to, you can simply block the call.
A glitch that didn’t allow verification of Canadian phone numbers resulted in a flurry of emails to the company’s help desk on Wednesday, but Cerda said that problem should be fixed by today.
Cerda said the service is in beta testing now and while some part of it will remain free, he said the company could add extra services at a charge. It may consider making money through linking ads to the emails or other services.
Jangl has 18 employees and its backers include Cardinal Venture Capital, Labrador Ventures and Storm Ventures, which together have invested $9 million.
© The Vancouver Sun 2007