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Tangential: I have a U.S. Skype Number (i.e., a real phone number offered by the Skype service) that's mainly used to receive and make (occasional) calls from/t
by AnonC 2y ago
Tangential: I have a U.S. Skype Number (i.e., a real phone number offered by the Skype service) that's mainly used to receive and make (occasional) calls from/to a bank and to receive SMS occasionally. The cost is about $40 a year. With Skype Number not available for purchase since December and the Skype platform (including Skype Number) going away soon, what are some simple, good (and preferably cheaper) alternatives for a VoIP service that works on an iPhone? I do not have any (other) real phone number in the U.S. I guess my current Skype Number cannot be ported or moved to another service.
Are there any alternatives to get a real U.S. phone number that will work in another country for long periods (AFAIK, many providers require the phone to connect to a local cellular network periodically)?
Edit: In case it wasn't apparent, I'm not physically in the U.S.
- jraph 2y agoIt seems what you are looking for is a SIP provider. There are many. Some of them allow interconnection with the "real" phone network.
- rwmj 2y agoIf only SIP wasn't such a trashfire of non-interoperating impossible to configure garbage.
- stampedbox 2y agogoogle fi
- jszymborski 2y agoVoIP.ms
- samsk 2y agoTry zadarma.com I've multiple numbers there
- freetime2 2y agoI was using Google Voice for a while, which is nice because it is free and never had any issues receiving SMS. A US phone number is required to activate, so I used a US relative's phone number to activate and then just disabled all the forwarding features so calls and SMS would never be forwarded to that number. Unfortunately, I went so long without actually using it that they took my number away (my fault because they did send me a warning but I just forgot about it). Now I'm in the same boat as you as I had switched to a Skype Number after that. But Google Voice is a decent free option to consider if there's someone in the US who could help you with initial activation. Until Google finally decides to kill it, at least. I'm frankly surprised that Microsoft killed Skype before Google killed Voice.
- AnonC 2y agoGP here: I had the exact same experience with Google Voice (linked to my Skype Number several years ago). Sadly, I could never get it to work with another Skype Number again.
- chneu 2y agoI've been using Gvoice pretty much since it started. I'm just as surprised as you that Google hasnt killed it. The writing has seemed to be on the wall a few times but it's still around, thankfully. When they semi-killed hangouts a couple years ago I thought for sure Gvoice was gone.
- xnx 2y agoGoogle Voice is weird. It seemed like they should've killed it, but they just added a few minor features this week.
- Multicomp 2y agoSomewhere we are going to get the novel about the quiet hero team anonymously keeping Google voice going all these decades. contorting to keep it off management's radar, explain away any foibles, redirecting minor funds to get maintenance and tech debt paid off just enough to work another year, someone's going to write that tech story some time. Even if it's fictional it will be a good read.
- jim180 2y agoI use tello.com. You can get eSIM and activate it while you are outside the U.S. If you won't activate roaming, sms and calling will use wifi calling.
- dzhiurgis 2y agoDo you know how providers detect your country when using wifi calling? Mine says it's only valid while you are within the country, wonder if VPN would work around it.
- jim180 2y agoNo idea, but Tello always worked outside of the U.S - Lithuania in my case. I guess, provider will always consider your country where the phone number is located. Funny thing, while I'm roaming, my IP address will always be Lithuanian. It does not matter where the world I'm currently staying.
- onlygoose 2y agoThis is the major way roaming is implemented, transferring all data through your home network greatly simplifies things.
- onlygoose 2y agoThey can detect your country by IP address. Also AFAIR your cellphone sends CellID and/or location with every wifi calling connection attempt.
- SXX 2y agoTello costs at least $5 / month though. Skype was jusy pay as you go.
- csomar 2y agoI pay $6.5/month for the number. It is pay as you go for calling but you have to pay for the number.
- EVa5I7bHFq9mnYK 2y agoTextNow, $10 a month
- kolp 2y agoTry voip.ms. Incoming texts can be sent to you as an email. A US number costs about $1.50 a month.
- supertrope 2y agoI use Groundwire as the client for voice and SMS.
- physicles 2y agoDoes this work for Claude? I have a Google voice number, and Claude rejects it.
- hyperdimension 2y agoSeconding VoIP.ms - they're great. Calls are billed at about 1c/min depending on if they call you (DID) or you call them.
- csomar 2y agoI have the same problem and I want something as straightforward and un-scammy looking as Skype. And no, I don't want to configure some SIP client or some stuff like that.
- zie 2y agojmp.chat should, though I have no direct experience with it outside the US for long periods of time, I can't seem them caring.