Google Voice goes US only • Hacker News Board

Re: Google Voice goes US only

#11

Post by dougmwne » Fri, Dec 29, 2023, 2:23 PM UTC

Been on Google Voice as my primary number for about 7 years. Mostly smooth sailing. I spend a few months a year out of the US and it makes it seamless. I also switched between cell carriers as I find deals or need different service and have never bothered with the number porting.

Guess it’s time to think about a new place to get a US number that works internationally for 2-factor sms. Any suggestions?

Re: Google Voice goes US only

#12

Post by ethanbond » Fri, Dec 29, 2023, 2:26 PM UTC

prepend wrote: post #4

What’s the replacement service for google voice? I like having a proxy number that I give out and route to my “real” number. So I have an unchanging number and don’t risk revealing my actual contact info. I also like getting texts through a web/app interface. Is there a similar nice, simple, and cheap voip service that I can just drop in? (When google inevitably kills their another awesomely useful service that doesn…

OpenPhone is really nice. Definitely built for more business use case but it’s a very complete and well-built solution.

Re: Google Voice goes US only

#13

Post by londons_explore » Fri, Dec 29, 2023, 2:27 PM UTC

ugjka wrote: post #9

wildrhythms wrote: post #3

Personally I'm shocked this service still exists at all, I imagine abuse is a huge problem.

Must be something Googlers themselves use?

ding ding ding.

Re: Google Voice goes US only

#14

Post by tyingq » Fri, Dec 29, 2023, 2:27 PM UTC

prepend wrote: post #4

What’s the replacement service for google voice? I like having a proxy number that I give out and route to my “real” number. So I have an unchanging number and don’t risk revealing my actual contact info. I also like getting texts through a web/app interface. Is there a similar nice, simple, and cheap voip service that I can just drop in? (When google inevitably kills their another awesomely useful service that doesn…

I like anveo.com, it's $2/month if you use the "free" plan and a $2/month US number. The UI is kind of dated, but the US phone number accepts incoming SMS, and they offer a drag/drop IVR type interface where you can route calls in most any way you want. Also includes in/out faxes, not that it comes up much, but when it does, it's nice to be able to do.

Note the other responses regarding some places requiring a "real" mobile number for SMS verification. Anveo's numbers won't work for this kind of thing. Similar to how Google Voice numbers don't work for it either.

Re: Google Voice goes US only

#15

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Dec 29, 2023, 2:29 PM UTC

1oooqooq wrote: post #2

I guess they really want the world to use whatsapp

[deleted]

Re: Google Voice goes US only

#16

Post by bane » Fri, Dec 29, 2023, 2:30 PM UTC

prepend wrote: post #4

What’s the replacement service for google voice? I like having a proxy number that I give out and route to my “real” number. So I have an unchanging number and don’t risk revealing my actual contact info. I also like getting texts through a web/app interface. Is there a similar nice, simple, and cheap voip service that I can just drop in? (When google inevitably kills their another awesomely useful service that doesn…

Google probably wants you to migrate to Fi.

Re: Google Voice goes US only

#17

Post by londons_explore » Fri, Dec 29, 2023, 2:31 PM UTC

1oooqooq wrote: post #2

I guess they really want the world to use whatsapp

whatsapp is just... better...

Mobile networks have dropped the ball for years on functionality. (it's 2023 and most mobile networks still won't let me make a call or send texts from my laptop!).

And across most of the world, mobile networks still charge $10/minute or more for group video calls... Forget about the fact video calls are impossible between some networks and others too. The UK's largest network, EE, says on it's site "Video calling isn’t available direct from EE at the moment.".

Re: Google Voice goes US only

#18

Post by 1oooqooq » Fri, Dec 29, 2023, 2:31 PM UTC

bane wrote: post #16

prepend wrote: post #4

What’s the replacement service for google voice? I like having a proxy number that I give out and route to my “real” number. So I have an unchanging number and don’t risk revealing my actual contact info. I also like getting texts through a web/app interface. Is there a similar nice, simple, and cheap voip service that I can just drop in? (When google inevitably kills their another awesomely useful service that doesn…

Google probably wants you to migrate to Fi.

it's not even the same concept and doesn't even came close to the use case for google voice. But knowing google PMs, I think you are right!

Re: Google Voice goes US only

#19

Post by elmerfud » Fri, Dec 29, 2023, 2:31 PM UTC

That seems like an annoying change but if your phone doesn't go voice over Wi-Fi or your carrier doesn't offer that, it's time to change. It's nearly 2024. I travel a lot and use Google voice as my primary number but always have T-Mobile backup that can be used with WiFi only.

Re: Google Voice goes US only

#20

Post by Mystery-Machine » Fri, Dec 29, 2023, 2:31 PM UTC

prepend wrote: post #4

What’s the replacement service for google voice? I like having a proxy number that I give out and route to my “real” number. So I have an unchanging number and don’t risk revealing my actual contact info. I also like getting texts through a web/app interface. Is there a similar nice, simple, and cheap voip service that I can just drop in? (When google inevitably kills their another awesomely useful service that doesn…

I use Hushed app. It gives me a phone number that I can use for WhatsApp and to receive SMS confirmation codes from various archaic services that still validate you thorough the insecure SMS. https://hushed.com/