getting a US phone number here by Skype

[JJJ]

1 minute ago, JJJ said:

How do you rate Google Voice? Also, you need a US phone number to get a verification code from Google. Can you use this same US phone number to get more than one Google Voice number? I do not have a US phone number and might ask a friend in the US to help me. But I don't want to prevent him from getting a Google Voice number in the future. Hope my question is understandable

One other question. I read one can use a VPN and get a Google Voice number anywhere. Just need a US phone number. So I looked into this and read a posting from a guy who used a disposable US phone number and a VPN. The result was that Google shut down his Google account. This would be a disaster for me if I lost my gmail account. Thanks very much for your help.

[Gator]

1 hour ago, JJJ said:

How do you rate Google Voice? Also, you need a US phone number to get a verification code from Google. Can you use this same US phone number to get more than one Google Voice number? I do not have a US phone number and might ask a friend in the US to help me. But I don't want to prevent him from getting a Google Voice number in the future. Hope my question is understandable

I’ve been using GV for a couple of years (mostly for 2FA or to keep my regular USA number private) with no complaints and it can be used across multiple devices. I have it on 2 phones, my iPad and my Mac laptop (via Chrome web browser). As far as I know you can only have one free GV number per verifiable USA number, but Google offers paid business accounts where you can have multiple GV numbers. 

Another option you might consider is to ask your friend to get one of those cheap pay as you go phones or a SIM card from Walmart; the type with no contract and you can load with X number of minutes. Set up your GV number using that phone or SIM and have your friend keep that phone/SIM in a safe place. You need to keep it in case Google needs to re-verify the number at some point in the future.

[JJJ]

1 hour ago, Gator said:

I’ve been using GV for a couple of years (mostly for 2FA or to keep my regular USA number private) with no complaints and it can be used across multiple devices. I have it on 2 phones, my iPad and my Mac laptop (via Chrome web browser). As far as I know you can only have one free GV number per verifiable USA number, but Google offers paid business accounts where you can have multiple GV numbers. 

Another option you might consider is to ask your friend to get one of those cheap pay as you go phones or a SIM card from Walmart; the type with no contract and you can load with X number of minutes. Set up your GV number using that phone or SIM and have your friend keep that phone/SIM in a safe place. You need to keep it in case Google needs to re-verify the number at some point in the future.

Thanks. I will go get a cheap SIM next trip to the US.

[jimeve]

Tried to use my Philippine credit card to buy skype credit but  my card keeps getting declined!

I had this skype account in the UK, I wonder if it will only works with a UK CC?

Edited November 8, 2023 by jimeve

[hk blues]

2 hours ago, jimeve said:

Tried to use my Philippine credit card to buy skype credit but  my card keeps getting declined!

I had this skype account in the UK, I wonder if it will only works with a UK CC?

I use my Metrobank debit card to buy Skype credit and haven't had any problem thus far - my last purchase was in March.  But, If I try to use my BPI debit card it is rejected - I have no idea why but think it's something to do with how purchases are authenticated.  Also, I buy  credit in GBP rather than pesos and let Metrobank do the exchange.

I set up the skype account when I was in Hong Kong, not the UK so maybe that has something to do with it.  

[KrisT]

On 11/1/2023 at 2:20 AM, JJJ said:

How do you rate Google Voice? Also, you need a US phone number to get a verification code from Google. Can you use this same US phone number to get more than one Google Voice number? I do not have a US phone number and might ask a friend in the US to help me. But I don't want to prevent him from getting a Google Voice number in the future. Hope my question is understandable

I saw that no one had answered this, so I ran it through ChatGPT-4, asking it to rate against other known options:

Google Voice is generally rated positively for its versatility and convenience, especially for users who need a separate phone number for business or personal use. It offers features such as voicemail transcription, call forwarding, and international calling options. The integration with other Google services like Gmail and Google Calendar enhances its utility for many users. However, its performance can vary based on internet connectivity and it may not have all the functionalities of a traditional phone service.

Regarding the use of a US phone number for verification, Google Voice typically requires a unique US-based phone number for each Google Voice number you set up. This means that if your friend in the US helps you set up a Google Voice number using their phone number for verification, they may not be able to use the same number to set up another Google Voice account for themselves. Google implements this policy to prevent abuse of its services. It's important to consider this before using someone else's phone number for verification purposes.

In summary, while Google Voice offers a range of useful features, the limitation on the verification process with US phone numbers can be a significant consideration for those outside the United States looking to use the service.