Hacker News Reader

Comment by unreal37 | Hacker News Reader

Cell service is shut down so that the terrorist cannot remote detonate any more bombs.

But if you have access to this website (internet access), then you have access to Skype and 100 other phone services... so why does this web site exist?

View on HN

> Cell service is shut down so that the terrorist cannot remote detonate any more bombs.

This is false. Verizon, Sprint and AT&T have confirmed its false, hours ago. The networks are likely overloaded and, as a result, spotty, but they have not been shut down.

Lot of disinformation spreading about this. All I know is my friends couldn't call their folks, so I wrote the app.

No idea what the diagnosis or prognosis on the situation is there - we'll keep it up until we hear all the telecom infrastructure is nominal.

Great work. Taking the extra step to be proactive in a situation that seemingly is localized, you still found a way to (likely) make a difference from 3k miles way. Visibility to the site is likely the only barrier now, but if there is anyone on the ground that can spread the word, this may be a hugely beneficial service.

"UPDATE, Monday, April 15, 6:08 p.m.: Wireless carriers say reports that authorities had shut down cellphone service in the Boston area are untrue."

http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2013/04/15/boston_ma...

I ran the race today, and my cellphone has been going off all day (within minutes of the incident, far as I can tell, up to my last call an hour ago) with family and friends checking on my status (which is fine). I'm not saying the service has been good for all, and thanks to RobSpectre for setting this up, but I can say at least some phones have worked all day.

EDIT: mostly SMS, but at least a couple of incoming and outgoing calls without problems.

My cell service has also worked all day. I'm a bit confused about the status of the network, but I've tried to keep off the phone for most of the day to avoid flooding it.

Can any of those other services give you ten minutes of free talk time without registering or downloading any software? Within 30 seconds from that link you can make a phone call, I don't think Skype or any other comparable services can do that reliably as Twilio can.

Skype isn't free.

You can make free calls from GMail

True, but this is no sign up required, just type a number and hit a button.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com