Second phone number without getting a second phone?

matthew

matthew

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Hi Everyone,

I need to get a second phone number for a public facing role. Ideally, I don't want to get a second phone.

I've seen an app recommended from Reddit called "Fongo". Has anyone used this or something similar?

I'm open to suggestions.

Thank you
 
Do you need to access calls while on the go or just at home? If at home you could get a VoIP service with a second number and have those calls forwarded to your current phone.
 
I use Fongo to maintain a Canadian number when we travel out of the country. Only works if there is data. There are certain rural areas where only voice networks are available, then Fongo/Google Voice/Skype Number/etc. will not work. Fongo does have voicemail, so callers can leave a message if data is not available, then you can retrieve your voicemail once you get Internet access again.

If your phone supports it, look into getting a second SIM, either physical or eSim. It will operate exactly like your current phone number, but with a different number. Needs its own plan though, but voice is fairly cheap compared to voice+data. A few companies offer Talk+Text plans for less than $20/month. You don't have to get the second SIM from the same provider as your primary SIM.
 
You want it to go to your cell phone? I use VOIP.ms for work phones. It's cheap and I can make whatever I want ring (including cell phones). Technically, I can dial out through it too from a cell phone but I don't bother. That requires dialing in, gaining access and then dialing out so call originates from voip number.

Google used to have a virtual phone in gmail. I think it got pushed out to Google Voice in business services.
 
While back there was a handful of dual SIM phones out there that you could use in a single phone and switch b/w the numbers.

I'd expect with the addition of e-SIMs that is going the way of the dodo bird.

I have my work calls forwarded to my personal phone, but text messages don't go to it so I check it periodically.
 
mimico_polak said:
While back there was a handful of dual SIM phones out there that you could use in a single phone and switch b/w the numbers.

I'd expect with the addition of e-SIMs that is going the way of the dodo bird.

I have my work calls forwarded to my personal phone, but text messages don't go to it so I check it periodically.
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Many phones that support both eSIMs and physical SIMs will let you have one of each active. A few phones support having multiple eSIMs active. And there are of course phones that support multiple physical SIMs, but they are quite rare in Canada
 
GreyGhost said:
Some phones will take double sim or single sim plus an sd card. I don't know if they are capable of receiving calls on both sims or if you have to switch back and forth in settings.
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Never had a phone with two physical SIM slots, but on my phone with one primary physical SIM and one eSIM, calls and texts came in on both numbers without having to activate/deactivate/switch-over primaries. You can choose which SIM to make outgoing calls on right on the dialing app:

thread-113984635-872413332873765381.png
 
Most phones over the past years have dual eSims for this purpose. I use the 2nd one on my iphone as a travel number so I can make local call aboard.

Pretty sure there are apps to purchase a 2nd eSim without having to go to your mobile network provider.
 
I have an older phone, Samsung Galaxy 13. No Esim available as afar as I know. No Dual sim either.

I should make myself available for calls when I'm not connected to WIFI.

The Voip.MS is confusing to me. It looks like it wants me to bring my existing number over to them.

If I have to, though I'd rather not, I can get another "old" phone, like my current one and get a number for it; I'd prefer to have the convenience of just needing to carry one phone around
 
matthew said:
I have an older phone, Samsung Galaxy 13. No Esim available as afar as I know. No Dual sim either.

I should make myself available for calls when I'm not connected to WIFI.

The Voip.MS is confusing to me. It looks like it wants me to bring my existing number over to them.

If I have to, though I'd rather not, I can get another "old" phone, like my current one and get a number for it; I'd prefer to have the convenience of just needing to carry one phone around
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Your options are:

- get a phone that supports dual SIMS/eSims. You may not have to spend a lot of money to get a recent, but not current model that supports this. In fact, your old Galaxy 13 did offer a dual SIM version alongside your single SIM version. That way you only carry one phone.

sddefault.jpg


- use VoIP, like Fongo/Google Voice/Skype Number. Again, downside is that you need a data connection. Doesn't have to be WiFi, could be mobile data, but if you're in a spot where this isn't available or is spotty, then you will be unable to make/receive calls properly. Probably not ideal if you're running a business on that line.

- call forwarding your public-facing number to your private number. But outgoing calls will show your private number on call display.

- buy a cheap talk-only "dumb" phone. Carry two phones like a drug dealer...
 
matthew said:
The Voip.MS is confusing to me. It looks like it wants me to bring my existing number over to them.
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You can create numbers with them (and virtual fax machines if you want). If you haven't setup voip before, acronyms can be confusing.

Abridged version of process.
  1. Order DID to get a phone number (or multiple phone numbers). They can be in canada, US, international, toll free, fax numbers, etc.
  2. Manage DID to direct calls. They can go to an IVR (Welcome to Matt's House of Sound, press 1 for Matt), forward to an existing number, go straight to a voicemail account, trigger a ring group (could ring your cell phone and a voip phone on your desk simultaneously), etc.
 
Lightcycle said:
Your options are:

- get a phone that supports dual SIMS/eSims. You may not have to spend a lot of money to get a recent, but not current model that supports this. In fact, your old Galaxy 13 did offer a dual SIM version alongside your single SIM version. That way you only carry one phone.

sddefault.jpg


- use VoIP, like Fongo/Google Voice/Skype. Again, downside is that you need a data connection. Doesn't have to be WiFi, could be mobile data, but if you're in a spot where this isn't available or is spotty, then you will be unable to make/receive calls properly.

- buy a cheap talk-only "dumb" phone.
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Option 4, voip number that forwards to his phone so no data is required as the phone sees it as a normal incoming call (although this is a bigger pain for outgoing calls that appear to come from the business number).
 
GreyGhost said:
Option 4, voip number that forwards to his phone so no data is required as the phone sees it as a normal incoming call (although this is a bigger pain for outgoing calls that appear to come from the business number).
Click to expand...

Yep. I ninja-edited my post to include this before you hit reply.
 
matthew said:
Hi Everyone,

I need to get a second phone number for a public facing role. Ideally, I don't want to get a second phone.

I've seen an app recommended from Reddit called "Fongo". Has anyone used this or something similar?

I'm open to suggestions.

Thank you
Click to expand...
Who is your current provider? Is this number for texting as well as incoming/outgoing calls?
 
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