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I 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 u

I 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 ago
GP 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 ago
I'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 ago
  Google Voice is weird. It seemed like they should've killed it, but they just added a few minor features this week.
  - Multicomp 2y ago
    Somewhere 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.
  - vel0city 2y ago
    It felt like it was slowly withering until they rolled it into their business communications suite a few years ago. Now it is pretty much a proper part of Workspace.
- dustincoates 2y ago
  I've used Google Voice as my primary number since 2010, and started using it before Google even owned it (i.e., when it was Grandcentral). Development seems to have (relatively) picked up recently. There was a period of about five years when I don't think there were any publicly announced developments. Now we'll get maybe one a year or so.
bsimpson 2y ago
I've used Google Voice as my primary number since 2010. It mostly works flawlessly. It's cool that you can use wifi calling when abroad and the POTS network domestically, all transparently from the POV of the person calling you. I have noticed that some services (Square, Venmo, and Ticketmaster come to mind) don't like sending 2FA texts to VoIP numbers. I end up needing to use whatever SIM I have at the time or a relative's number for those, and I'm low key anxious I'll be locked out of my account someday.

AnonC 2y ago

GP 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 ago

I'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 ago
Google Voice is weird. It seemed like they should've killed it, but they just added a few minor features this week.
- Multicomp 2y ago
  Somewhere 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.
- vel0city 2y ago
  It felt like it was slowly withering until they rolled it into their business communications suite a few years ago. Now it is pretty much a proper part of Workspace.
dustincoates 2y ago
I've used Google Voice as my primary number since 2010, and started using it before Google even owned it (i.e., when it was Grandcentral). Development seems to have (relatively) picked up recently. There was a period of about five years when I don't think there were any publicly announced developments. Now we'll get maybe one a year or so.

bsimpson 2y ago

I've used Google Voice as my primary number since 2010. It mostly works flawlessly. It's cool that you can use wifi calling when abroad and the POTS network domestically, all transparently from the POV of the person calling you. I have noticed that some services (Square, Venmo, and Ticketmaster come to mind) don't like sending 2FA texts to VoIP numbers. I end up needing to use whatever SIM I have at the time or a relative's number for those, and I'm low key anxious I'll be locked out of my account someday.