Looking for a digital phone number that isn't terrible
September 8, 2023 8:51 AM Subscribe
I've been a line2 user for a while, it's...fine, but seems to be getting worse, but the space seems full of awful companies. Do you have one...you like?
I am an american living outside of the US. For various services, it's useful to have an american phone number. Google voice probably would have been ideal, but I can't actually get one atm...I should have set it up before I left american and got rid of my phone/phone number (I tried when I got line2 and couldn't get it to work, as I no longer have a non-digital american phone number)
Line2 seems to just be getting worse and worse...on top of that, a lot of banking service texts won't arrive, though I realize this is a problem a lot of digital numbers are going to have
I did a little research and it seems everyone hates their voip provider. My needs are limited!
- be able to continue using my number for american services that need/want an american number
- be able to call american customer support for said services
- ideally be able to receive texts from said services (these days mainly for two factor via SMS)
- have a way to text/call friends if other digital channels have failed
any good providers that meet the bill? I am not running a small business with more sophisticated needs.
I am an american living outside of the US. For various services, it's useful to have an american phone number. Google voice probably would have been ideal, but I can't actually get one atm...I should have set it up before I left american and got rid of my phone/phone number (I tried when I got line2 and couldn't get it to work, as I no longer have a non-digital american phone number)
Line2 seems to just be getting worse and worse...on top of that, a lot of banking service texts won't arrive, though I realize this is a problem a lot of digital numbers are going to have
I did a little research and it seems everyone hates their voip provider. My needs are limited!
- be able to continue using my number for american services that need/want an american number
- be able to call american customer support for said services
- ideally be able to receive texts from said services (these days mainly for two factor via SMS)
- have a way to text/call friends if other digital channels have failed
any good providers that meet the bill? I am not running a small business with more sophisticated needs.
I know one of the people who runs JMP and I think it does all this.
posted by brainwane at 10:28 AM on September 8, 2023
posted by brainwane at 10:28 AM on September 8, 2023
I just want to say that Callcentric is the bee's knees. Last time I had any issue with them was a result of their building being flooded during Sandy.
As already noted, however, just about any service is going to be flagged as VOIP by Twilio and the other SMS providers companies use. If any of the cheap prepaid cell providers support WiFi calling, having someone in the US activate a SIM for you and ship it over would be more reliable for SMS two factor authentication and such.
posted by wierdo at 7:04 PM on September 8, 2023
As already noted, however, just about any service is going to be flagged as VOIP by Twilio and the other SMS providers companies use. If any of the cheap prepaid cell providers support WiFi calling, having someone in the US activate a SIM for you and ship it over would be more reliable for SMS two factor authentication and such.
posted by wierdo at 7:04 PM on September 8, 2023
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Be aware that some services somehow know whether a number is "really" a mobile number, and your callcentric number might fail this test. I don't know how that works.
posted by fritley at 10:26 AM on September 8, 2023