Of course you can call me

Ever uttered the words, “Let’s stay in touch,” only to regret saying them as they roll out of your mouth? Well, there’s an app for that! A new app designed for Apple’s iPhone allows the user to constantly generate a new number, but once they want to lose it, all the user need do is hit the delete button and the number will cease to exist — meaning no more calls (or texts) will connect to it.

Say hello to the “Burner” app, which seems to have been inspired in part by cult US TV series The Wire. In the show a burner is a pre-paid cellphone that is replaced weekly, used by drug pushers to avoid keeping a phone that may store up large amounts of evidence. The actual burner app works similarly — by tapping “Create Burner”, any user with the app will be able to generate a new number — and then delete it by pressing “Burn”.

The question that tends to be asked about most apps released nowadays are around the practicalities of the services provided — and who will use them. The Wire has already shown us that this sort of thing is popular within the drug-dealer market, and the mischief caused by Scott Mills with the Flirt Divert (a pre-app era service) phone number shows that the Burner is what prank callers’ dreams are made of.

In all honesty, though, the app doesn’t have to be used for illicit purposes and there are many different ways it can be used. For example, ladies, if you go out for a drink with the girls and the guy who keeps staring at you looks like your type but with just the slightest hint of clingy? Then give him your Burner number to make sure he isn’t a stalker while you get to know him.

Better still, why not use a Burner when you are forced to divulge your digits for any number of annoying sign ups — and usually leads to calls and texts from salespeople galore? Then you won’t have to worry about being flooded with unwanted attention, of any variety.