I can recommend voip.ms. I've been using it for years now for the exact same wants. I have an asterix freePBX box but you can use any SIP client. SMS can be redirect to your email. Affordable, reliable and works very well.
Ask HN: Digital Nomad Guide for International Phone Numbers
11–18 of 18 posts
Re: Ask HN: Digital Nomad Guide for International Phone Numbers
#12In a similar boat. On that note, if someone wants to maintain a number in US forever only for the sake of receiving texts (MFA) and call (only if urgent, capability can be added as a temporary add-on on the spot), what is the cheapest option?
Re: Ask HN: Digital Nomad Guide for International Phone Numbers
#13Look for a normal UK provider that supports "wifi-calling".
For US numbers, use Tello's basic e-sim: it supports "wifi-calling" i.e. as long as you're connected to the internet, you receive & send calls & texts as if you're in the US, no matter which country you're actually in. Because it's just a normal number, it'll work with WhatsApp.
$7/month for unlimited text, 100 phone minutes, no data.
Re: Ask HN: Digital Nomad Guide for International Phone Numbers
#14[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: Digital Nomad Guide for International Phone Numbers
#15Look for a normal UK provider that supports "wifi-calling". For US numbers, use Tello's basic e-sim: it supports "wifi-calling" i.e. as long as you're connected to the internet, you receive & send calls & texts as if you're in the US, no matter which country you're actually in. Because it's just a normal number, it'll work with WhatsApp. $7/month for unlimited text, 100 phone minutes, no data.
Tello looks interesting. I'll test it out!
Re: Ask HN: Digital Nomad Guide for International Phone Numbers
#16Google Fi works for great for moving around internationally but it's more expensive than you want.
Re: Ask HN: Digital Nomad Guide for International Phone Numbers
#17Look for a normal UK provider that supports "wifi-calling". For US numbers, use Tello's basic e-sim: it supports "wifi-calling" i.e. as long as you're connected to the internet, you receive & send calls & texts as if you're in the US, no matter which country you're actually in. Because it's just a normal number, it'll work with WhatsApp. $7/month for unlimited text, 100 phone minutes, no data.
Nice tip. Another option for US numbers is Google project fi.
I have been using Google Project Fi for calls and texts the last 6 years internally. A bit pricey but you don’t need to be on wifi for calls and texts. I also had international data for like 5 years until they cut me off last year.
Re: Ask HN: Digital Nomad Guide for International Phone Numbers
#18I have a second Nokia phone that keeps sim cards from other countries that I dont need all the time (e.g. 2FA). Receiving txt is free and just need to top it up once per year to keep the number running.