I recently learned about Cape and am trying them out to see how it works. I'd be interested in any other info or opinions people may have.
They are private by nature. They don't collect a bunch of info on you to create an account. They aren't going to sell your data. Its clear it's not anonymous, but I don't need that I just need privacy.
Cool features include:
A rotating IMSI number that changes every 24 hours or so.
What they call Network Lock, which basically pings your phone when your IMSI attaches to the network to verify proximity. If it doesn't match then they deny it. This should prevent SMS interception and sim jacking.
There's also secondary phone numbers included that handle SMS only, so you can use them for services you don't want to give your real number to or as a burner number.
Phone numbers are not identified as VoIP so that (stupid) limitation from some services isn't applicable.
I also like that they seem like a very practical solution. Right now I use JMP for VoIP numbers and buy a data sim separately. I've looked at other services and had issues with them. Cape seems very straight forward and simple.
That being said, they are a very new company. Apparently this has been worked on for years but the service just went live in January. That's my biggest hesitation.
My testing over 2 days has been fine. I haven't seen anything that is negative or a red flag.
Pricing is mildly expensive overall for a single line. No family plans, which is good from a privacy stance and there's a referral discount so basically if you use that to sign up multiple accounts it brings the price down like a family plan would. But I'm a single line so I don't get any of that benefit.
There's some missing features but none that I really care about. They have a clearly marked out roadmap for the year, so I guess over time we get to see if they stick to it.
What do you guys think?
I'm interested to try them, but as far as I can't tell, they only offer last mile app-based SMS and voicemail on iOS.
This is an important feature, to me, as it would be a (potentially better) alternative to JMP.
It seems like the ideal setup would be to port my main number to Cape and then use an anonymous data-only eSIM, but that won't make sense until they add SMS to their Android app.
I also heard that they are adding RCS support. That will be awesome, too.
How do the speeds on Cape compare to your previous carrier?
So you want SMS inside of their app? That's one of the features I like, that I'm not tied to their app. Messaging and calls are handled through my standard phone apps. The Cape app is for account management and settings, and the secondary SMS numbers.
Oh, that is actually a negative I came across. The secondary numbers don't notify outside of the app. So that limits how they can be used - basically if you are expecting a OTA code then go look. But in their defense that feature is currently a beta test.
Speeds are OK. Nothing to scream at but also nothing where I noticed an issue. I have yet yo try to consume media on it though. My speed test came back at 10 Mbps but that's what my other carrier is giving me.
Yes RCS is on the roadmap for this year. So hokdin breath there. I want it, but don't currently have it so its clearly not a deal breaker to me.
Messaging and calls through standard phone apps would be even better -- I just want to be able to do it over IP, kind of like T-Mobile DIGITS, without using their eSIM.
The holy grail, to me, would be to port my real number to Cape and then, instead of using their eSIM, use an anonymous data-only eSIM.
You could, in this scenario, swap eSIMs as much as you want but retain the phone number your friends and family have, without Cape.co having your IMSI or IMEI at all.
I know that JMP and VoIP.ms exist, but we're all aware of the compromises. Being able to do this over IP, with a real carrier, especially if it supported the native phone apps, would be incredible.
I hear you. That does seem like the ideal scenario. I don't think Cape will ever go there but the future isn't written. I never thought I'd see a company like Cape in the first place, so there's hope (however much of a tiny sliver it is).