Google discriminates against ALL non cell phone owners, in any country

Anyone without a cell phone cannot open a Gmail account. In order to open a Gmail account, you MUST have a cell phone to receive the "special" text message to complete the registration. There is no way to get around it.



I have noticed in the past, Google tried to get my telephone number "just for security purposes" but I haven't given it to them, nor will I. When it comes to the point I have to submit it in order to continue with their Gmail service, I guess I will no longer have any accounts with them.

Also, within their December 1, 2010 Terms & Conditions, (YES, 2010, obviously this is nothing new)

"3.Consent to the collection, use, sharing, and onward transfer of your data, including but not limited to voice and location data, as outlined in the Mobile Privacy Policy (m.google.com/privacy). Location data may be from mixed sources and may not be accurate. Use at your own risk."

Seems the screws are tightening.

reply to post by Gridrebel

When I went to open a you-tube account a few years ago and discovered I had to have a Google email account in order to do so, I knew enough and dropped the idea of a you-tube account.

ETA And on a related note, I see you-tube has a strangely effective new feature, audio transcribed subtitles which appear to be generated server-side on-the-fly and also without voice training, unlike software such as Dragon Naturally Speaking. I was searching for voice recognition software but have yet found no open-source mention of whatever it is Google/You-tube is using to do that with. It feels kinda huge somewhere....

I don't recall having to give my cell phone number for a gmail account when I made mine a few years back. I wonder if that is something they just implemented in the last couple years.

I dont have a cellphone, but Google does verify per voice too.

Furthermore, there are "virtual cell phone" services on the web where you can let Google send a code and it works (at least when i had to do this many months ago)

FAR, FAR worse than Google is facebook since you need to verify each account by SMS via mobil phone and they do not provide means to verify by voice call as does Google.

To make things worse, facebook SMS verification does NOT work on any known web site where you can get a virtual mobile phone number.

However, here is a trick if you REALLY need to verify by mobile/SMS and all the websites for a virtual mobile phone nr. won't work:

There is a site called fiverr.com where you can buy very cheap ($5) so called "gigs"...there are plenty of people offering verification services.

In my opinion, mobile and SMS verification is UTTERLY stupid since anyone can buy multiple mobile phones or sim cards in a store..they do NOT prove an identity really.

Edit: receive-sms-online.com...

Thats not the case where I am.

They ask for a mobile number as a sort of security in case you have trouble with your account. However you have the option to skip it and set up a special security question instead. I have many gmail accounts and would never allow them to link them to a phone number.

Twitter is cenorsing material now. Youtube is censoring material. My official email account is censoring material. I tried to send information to frineds on ACTA and it refused to send the mail saying it contained abusive language. I was able to send it in gmail though.

THere has been a huge increase in censorship just recently. The SOPA/ACTA stuf just seems to be a distraction and there is a big push on behind the scenes to tighten up the interenet. The only choice soon will be to accept or switch off. MY finger is over the 'off' switch all the time now. Won't be long before I leave the internet.

Google isn't forcing you to get a gmail account. If you don't like the T&Cs, don't sign up.

There are plenty of other webmail providers out there,

Just tried it, could open an account without any problem-no phone number needed

reply to post by TinyRage


It IS new. I didn't have to either, up to I believe about a year ago when I opened my last one, can't remember the exact date because that account is closed now and I can't check it. But I tried to open a new one today.

I also checked the privacy policy which will be effective March 1, 2012

When you use our services or view content provided by Google, we may automatically collect and store certain information in server logs. This may include:

■details of how you used our service, such as your search queries.
■telephony log information like your phone number, calling-party number, forwarding numbers, time and date of calls, duration of calls, SMS routing information and types of calls.
■Internet protocol address.
■device event information such as crashes, system activity, hardware settings, browser type, browser language, the date and time of your request and referral URL.
■cookies that may uniquely identify your browser or your Google Account.

This part is really scary:

"telephony log information like your phone number, calling-party number, forwarding numbers, time and date of calls, duration of calls, SMS routing information and types of calls."

Here's more:

"◦Cookies and anonymous identifiers

We use various technologies to collect and store information when you visit a Google service, and this may include sending one or more cookies or anonymous identifiers to your device. We also use cookies and anonymous identifiers when you interact with services we offer to our partners, such as advertising services or Google features that may appear on other sites."

So even if it isn't a "Google" service, it could be any one of their "partners". How many partners does Google have???


I'm thinking of a Charlie Brown reaction here. AAAAAGGGGGGHHHH

You can open a gmail account without a phone number

Here's How:

Find a friend who already has a gmail account.

they can send you an invite to gmail, by clicking on the "..." in the lower *left* corner of their gmail screen.
A text bar will pop up and they can enter your current email address.

You will receive an email with a link to open a new gmail account. When you set up this new account, it won't ask for a cell phone. It may ask you later, but it will provide an option to click "no thanks" when it prompts you to give your number.

You can use this to create multiple gmail accounts for yourself too... you can use your new gmail account to send another invite to your old email address, then once you have 2 or more gmail accounts, you can send invites from one gmail account to the other.. Basically this is a loophole to create as many gmail accounts as you desire.. Each new account comes with 50 invites I have countless gmail accounts from doing this..

Do it while you still can..

i just read and accepted the new gmail policy this morning when i logged in.

i have had gmail since back when it was invite only beta, other than the disclaimer i haven't noticed a change..

gmail has asked for a phone number to "help secure my account" lol. but i always click no thanks

im guessing if you already have a gamil you wont have to do the phone thing? but who knows.

not true for all...
i just created a NEW account and it never once asked me for my phone number....




ETA....also my older current gmail does sometimes ask for it, but there is a link that says "No thanks" and you skip it...

Originally posted by DISINFORMANT
You can open a gmail account without a phone number

Here's How:

Find a friend who already has a gmail account.

they can send you an invite to gmail, by clicking on the "..." in the lower right corner of their gmail screen.
A text bar will pop up and they can enter your current email address.

You will receive an email with a link to open a new gmail account. When you set up this new account, it won't ask for a cell phone. It may ask you later, but it will provide an option to click "no thanks" when it prompts you to give your number.

You can use this to create multiple gmail accounts for yourself too... you can use your new gmail account to send another invite to your old email address, then once you have 2 or more gmail accounts, you can send invites from one gmail account to the other.. Basically this is a loophole to create as many gmail accounts as you desire.. Each new account comes with 50 invites

I have countless gmail accounts from doing this..

Do it while you still can..

edit on 1/28/2012 by DISINFORMANT because: (no reason given)

Great tip for those who want one! (I'm not being sarcastic either) I must admit I do find it kind of strange and ironic that you need an existing email address to set-up a free email account though. It sounds kind of self-defeating.

reply to post by greeneyedleo


It may be region-specific..
Can't think of any other reason it only seems to ask some people

reply to post by LightSpeedDriver


I think the invite box is a carryover from years ago when gmail was in beta. Either they forgot to remove it when they went public, or they figure it's a good recruiting tool to get new mambers..
Either way, I've used the crap out of it lol..

Just made a new email after reading this.

I did not need to put in a phone number.

reply to post by greeneyedleo


The Gmail page I posted was in direct response to me attempting to set up a new Gmail account. I was not signed in to any Gmail account during this attempt. I am wondering if already being signed in to a Gmail account and attempting to set up a new Gmail account bypasses the requirement, sort of like adding a sub account for child etc. because they are using the data of the existing account as a base. I don't know.

Originally posted by greeneyedleo
not true for all...
i just created a NEW account and it never once asked me for my phone number....

Maybe somehow they already and nefariously know your telephone number... I would guess that IP's don't change for some and not too much for others, making tracking easier. The undeletable cookie was shown to be deletable but it does go to show that they are thinking about it.

Originally posted by LightSpeedDriver

Originally posted by greeneyedleo
not true for all...
i just created a NEW account and it never once asked me for my phone number....

Maybe somehow they already and nefariously know your telephone number...

I would guess that IP's don't change for some and not too much for others, making tracking easier. The undeletable cookie was shown to be deletable but it does go to show that they are thinking about it.

I will scrub my linux box and try again, should take about 15 minutes.

reply to post by Gridrebel


I don't think they'll allow you to create a new account while still signed into am account. you have to sign out to access the forms to create a new account