I can’t help but wonder, since a number of posters said they didn’t manage to confirm your supposedly Google problem, is that what you’re trying to do here? Are you creating a false problem so that you can rant about it?
What’s next:
Using Google Translate OK???
Using Google Gmail OK???
You know your problem is false, right? Nowadays, from my experience, you can get a disposable cell number at a price of 1€. Also from my experience, your so called personal information you use to sign up to this type of services is often forged. But if you provide accurate info, that is beacause you have a business interest there.
So, you’re *****ing because you want something free in your own terms. Well, guess what, if it’s free, those offering the service are bound to have some way to compensate in order to be able to keep providing the service free.
Believe what you want, pal. It matters not to me one way or the other.
I’ve talked to a couple of other people who have recently tried opening a Google account using a free email service as their email address (like Yahoo, which is what I use for contact info) and they also were sent to a page where their phone number was requested.
I’m thinking that maybe this is being done because I’m using a free email service, I don’t know.
Yes, those providing free services have the right to ask for whatever they want…and those partaking of said free services have the right to reject their request and use some other service.
I have found such a service at http://www.Map-Generator.net which enabled me to create a map to embed without having to give away any personal info at all.
So, I have a work around for my situation and I’m good to go.
But, if you would like to give Google your phone number or any other personal information…feel free because that has no effect on me at all.
You apparently don’t mind sharing your personal info with anybody, and I do.
You have the right to share, I have the right not to. Problem solved…
You still get to use Google services for free, while you still manage to spread dirt on those same services and company. Have you ever even said thanks to Google for it?
Don’t you find it a little suspicious that http://www.Map-Generator.net does a free thing for you? How do they manage this one? Possibly by using info and links to and from your web page? Think harder. Unless you’re here to promote http://www.Map-Generator.net. Than your strategy is almost flawless!
And “You apparently don’t mind sharing” is gratuitous, please refrain from jumping to conclusion and put words in my mouth. OK pal?!
They had my phone number for ages now (at least 5 years) and I still haven’t received any single call. Not even when I forgot to top-up my adwords account and it was negative
Having said that, you have every right to decide who has your details and who doesn’t.
As far as I remember (I’ve been using Google services for a long time so it may have changed), sending you a sms is one of the ways to confirm who you are (and the fastest) but not the only way.
I also think that Google has the right to confirm who’s using its services, even if it is for the sake of a minimum of security. Glad that you found a system that works for you.
Hey, you’re the one giving me a hard time for not giving them my phone number…that obviously means you have given them your phone number and didn’t mind them having it.
Say thanks to a faceless corporation worth billions and billions of dollars??? Uh, no…
I don’t care how they do it. I’m thinking it didn’t cost them anything cause their code is still using Google maps. Apparently, this is a good way to go because Google gets the phone number for Map-Generator.net and I get to use Google maps without giving Google my phone number…so this is a win-win for my customer.
Yeah, they are putting together the technology to be able to track the movements of each and every human being on planet earth, which will be taken over or controlled by big government. I’m just not feeling alot of love for Google, are you?
I know…that’s a large part of what is wrong with the world today in that many people refuse to allow others to have an opinion that they don’t agree with.
This is why there will never be peace on planet earth!
Think harder. Unless you’re here to promote 
