Keep Your Phone Number When You Move Abroad!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ค. 2024
- Are you moving to another country? Or taking a very long trip? This video will help you figure out how to keep your phone number and move it over to Google Voice. This has worked for me and I hope it works for you. The link below will let you double check that you can actually port your number with Google Voice.
*Be sure to own your phone outright from the provider or this will not work. The phone must be unlocked.
Check to see if you can port your number: www.google.com/voice/porting
Google Voice Help Article: support.google.com/voice/answ...
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Thanks for making this video! I shared it with someone yesterday to help them because it’s helped me so much! 😄🥳
Hi! Thank you for this video - it was super helpful and makes it SO much easier to understand what porting my phone number through google voice will actually do (and won't do) for me!
Thank you! Excellent presentation of a very useful process. I'll be traveling full time beginning in September and came across your video when researching communications options. Especially 2Fa and calling my bank in the U.S.
*You keep mentioning how this was confusing, and too many steps..* I disagree, I’ve been in Mexico with Sprint, and you’re the first person to ‘Make It Make Sense’, for me! I have two American #s, I would like to keep, an stop paying $120+ monthly for. Now I have a step by step, in addition to your detailed responses to other comments. *Thank You!*
I agree
Likewise!
Hi Alex, I never make comment on youtube but I want to thank you for helping me solve this mystery. I couldn't find a way to make it work but you gave me hope.
Thank you so much! I will be returning to live at my boyfriend’s home country once again after I had to return to the US to rectify online payment issues. I want to do things differently this time because my income was restricted to PayPal, Western Union, and occasional deposits via a bank that’s only available in Puerto Rico and the USVI. To top that off, PayPal was giving issues with sign in. I want to make sure I can access all other apps and make those customer service calls with a US number. Whew. Those verification codes! I really love this option because honestly, I don’t really use my phone plan much aside from receiving codes and a few phone calls. I use WhatsApp and iMessage for the most part. So to pay $100 for a phone plan when I have local wifi at home is just too much. There’s so much information online about vacation travel. Some of us want to leave for long and others for good lol
Hey, I was listening to your very clear and amazing explanation of how to get Google voice, which sounds awesome to have, as I'm moving to France in a few months, but at the same time I was watching the VIEW through your window, and it looks awesome man... Those mountains...!
You are awesome!! Thanks so much for sharing this process!!!!
wow we can save so much money with this!!
Great video. New update: I ported my US phone into Google voice while in Portugal in 2024 no problem.
Great Video, thank you! I do not believe you have to have a forwarding number anymore. So, you do need a US number for the initial setup but there is an option in the app to remove this. Settings >Calls> Making & Receiving calls> Prefer Wifi & Mobile Data. I changed this and now Google Voice rings the phone without forwarding. Anyway just thought I would try to help anyone else who may be curious. It did work for me. So now it's free! Thanks again for the video, it definitely helped!
So, could you use your regular phone number as google voice number after It’s forwarded? You don’t need Skype number?
Is that still useful for 2FA verifications?
@@RigelVlog Yes, you can or have the number ported to Google Voice, and then no need to forward. I have not yet run into the need for 2FA verifications so I am not sure on that one but from what I have read it won't work with most banks.
This is what I was wondering! I already got the Skype number and now I'm wondering why I need it? I'm moving in a few hours but I just did this and it looks like porting to GV is good enough. Thank you!
First of all, thank you for this video. Yours is the most detailed by far. However I do still have a few questions. 1) Why did you use both Google Voice and Skype to port your number? Couldn’t you just have done it through one of the services? 2) Which service will you actually be using to send and receive messages- Skype or Google voice?
Thank you.
Google Voice doesn't have phone plans which is why he chose Skype. Google Voice was is just there to keep his old phone number for forwarding purposed. He could have just used Skype but then he would have to give everyone the new number which is what he was avoiding having to do. I hope that makes sense.
@@LuciusBaston thank you. Now I understand. 😊
And also Google voice number can not use in other counties for incoming or outgoing call. Skype can use anywhere. And also skype ID can be set as original phone number. Then receive will get call from original number.
Hi Alex. Thanks for this. Your directions are very clear. I will be moving to Portugal shortly from the US. Forgive the basic questions from someone who is technologically challenged. I have cell service through ATT on an iPhone that I do own and is unlocked. When I leave the US, do I cancel my service with them? And would I set the cancel date for after my arrival in Portugal? And do I need a Portuguese number before I do any of this? And when you visit the US, why do you need a pay-as-you-go plan if calls can come through? I appreciate your help!
Q: I have cell service through ATT on an iPhone that I do own and is unlocked. When I leave the US, do I cancel my service with them? And would I set the cancel date for after my arrival in Portugal?
A: Yes you would cancel but you would need to make sure you can port that number. Check the link in the video description to see if your number is able to be ported. I would just call them from the airport. It is super fast. It can even be done automatically when you port the number but its best to call and talk to them.
A: And do I need a Portuguese number before I do any of this?
Q: No, you need to have a connection to the internet, if thats WIFI from your house or a local sim card (Portuguese number)
A: And when you visit the US, why do you need a pay-as-you-go plan if calls can come through? I appreciate your help!
Q: Calls cannot come in without a connection to the internet. Google Voice is not a data provider. You need to have a service or wifi that connects you to the internet.
@@alexdronesplaces1264 Google voice can make calls and receive calls. Can't you just get a VPN which will allow you to use Google voice from anywhere because the VPN will tell Google voice that you're in the US (even if you're not) and as long as you have unlimited data wifi on your phone you don't need Skype? If someone calls your old number it won't need to be forwarded to your Skype number.
@@alexdronesplaces1264 Just to clarify. So I'm able to keep my current phone number with Verizon even after I cancel service with them?? My phone just has to be paid off and unlocked?
this was super helpful. First explanation I've heard that made sense! Thank you. Question - can I discontinue paying for my US service while I am abroad? And can I get my phone number and service reinstated when I go back to live in the US?
Hi Alex. Great video, thanks.Have you had any probles with 2 factor auth from banks? I have heard of people having issues with Voice.
Thanks for the info.
Hey Alex, great video. Thanks for all the help. One question: is there anything I can do to complete this porting process if I am already living abroad? I know you specifically mention that it must be done in the US or Canada before you leave, but I was unaware of this process before I moved to Brazil. Thanks again!
Should work if you use a VPN to connect to American servers
I was able to do it in Mexico with a vpn
Hi, Alex thank you for this great video you clarified a lot of confusion I had on the topic. I just have one question. I am moving to Spain next week. I am pretty sure I already have a number there that I believe is active, whenever I reload the money if that's the case can I skip the purchasing a new number on skype step? and just use my Spanish number to connect to my google voice number after I complete the port? thanks so much in advance! great stuff.
Hola Daniel. ¿Pudiste hacerlo? Yo tambien estoy ahora en España
Thanks Alex, great information. Thanks to Panama Relocation Tours for giving me the link. I have a different scenario and can use your direction. I want a Google Voice with my current phone number ported to it. I also want to change my current number immediately. The reason is I need a different number to have the ability to allow people into my apartment complex. My current number is outside Houston and doesn't work for the gate. This is the scenario I envision: 1. Pay off balance on Verizon; 2. Port my existing number to Google; 3. Change my number with Verizon to a Houston number so I can operate the apartment complex gate from my phone; 4. Get a new Panamanian telephone when I arrive there. Will this scenario work?
Thanks....Sounds good...a little concerned about doing this, just before jumping on a plane to Asia.......
Hello I am in the same situation moving abroad and want to keep my US phone number. I was told the Google voice you need to live in the US to use it. Do you have to use and VPN on your phone so that google doesn't find out you don't live in US anymore? Thanks.
Thank you!
Thanks for the detailed info!
Is the Skype number mainly for the outgoing calls? For just the incoming calls/texts, do I need Skype or any other network number?
This is helpful, thanks. My question is in regards to the forwarding number that Google Voice needs: Is it better you think to
A) chose the second Skype number (like you show how to do), or
B) chose a phone number with a local carrier at the new country (assuming you'll be needing that local number for calls etc there) ?
Any reason why choosing a US-based skype number would be preferred over the new country's local number? And if going with option B, how are we supposed to know that number before actually being in the new country?! Btw Skype's charge for the second number is $7.99/month I see, not $39 for the year.
Depend on the country, google voice used tmobile, if the new country that you are in have tmobile then u are good to go, you can look it up.
If you do option B. Call will consider as IDD call. And also from other country You can not call to USA by same phone number. Receive will get other number. If you use skype receive will see the caller ID set up in skype.
Great info. I have a family plan which includes another line on my plan. So after porting my number can I also port the other number on my plan to google voice? Thanks
Fabulous, thank you!!!!
What cell phone carrier are you using in Portugal?
NOS
Hi Alex, thanks for the information. I have a question. Could I go ahead and port my number(if allowed) a few days prior to arriving at the airport and then remove my ATT sim and replace with a temporary sim with international capability. I heard that porting to Google Voice may take a few days to complete - not sure if true or not. I know this option cost a bit more given the fact that I would need to buy a temp. sim in the us before arriving in Portugal. Thanks
Roger, I would do it a few days before I left so that if there were any issues I could resolve them before I left. Seems it would be very difficult to get that straitened out in another country.
Are you charged at all for any calls or messages even if its going to a U.S. number? Also if I have a Sim card from a country I am in, am I able to use Google Voice through that data, or is it strictly over WIFI only?
very informative...thank you...i do have a question. i have a number with verizon, which i've had for about a million years or so...i also have a google voice number for about a year now. i don't plan on relocating but i do plan on traveling to europe and in general overseas. My question is can i make calls to a US number from overseas, say from the UK or France? i looked something up in google voice and i did put $10.00 in an account because i read that i would be able to make the calls provided i have some money in the account...i am really looking for confirmation on this...as i understand it, i can use google voice for phone calls and get a local sim card/esim for data usage...if this is the case than WOW...thanks for any insight you can give me on this...
Hey Alex, it's one year later. Things are changing so fast on this front. We are moving to Pt in 4 weeks and I have this question: Is this still your preferred approach?
FTf
Did this method work for you?
Can you do this process after arriving to the new country that you are moving to? Provided that roaming is activated on your number of course and you are able to receive text messages
Thanks for the great video Alex. It all seems very complicated but I’m sure once I go through the steps I’ll get it in no time. So just to be clear.. After I port my number over I would remove my US AT&T Sim card and replace it with a new sim on a Portuguese phone plan? Can you recommend a phone plan to get?Even without my old Sim, I will get all my texts and phone calls because they’re going through Google voice… Correct?
Yes and Yes that is correct! Sorry for the late reply. I reccomend NOS as they are my favorite so far and are very kind. But you are correct that you will get all your texts and calls through google voice and you will get a new sim.
@@alexdronesplaces1264 Just saw this. Thanks. I've been crazy busing getting my visa docs together. I've been hearing a lot about Vodaphone but not NOS. I'll check them out. Thanks again.
I keep seeing on different sites that I can not port my number to google voice AFTER I have gone overseas. Is this true? Is there a way to do this?
Hi Alex this is all very straightforward and helpful! I am wondering if I make a call to the US, will the number that shows up on the other end be my US phone number? I am doing this for work reasons so when I call a business it shows up as a US number.
Did you ever get an answer for this question?
did you get an answer about this?
@@brandenheath1870
Does this support text messages, if so what app do you receive and send the texts from? Are you able to receive 2FA texts for and USA accounts?
Hi Alex, this was super informative! I will be moving soon but still working and may be in US more than 1-2x a year for work. I have a Vodafone SIM as part of our internet package. I was thinking I would buy a new int'l version Samsung dual SIM, set up in US with low cost carrier (currently w Verizon, move to Consumer Cellular/T-Mobile/Mint). My phone would be set up with both SIMs, PT SIM as primary/active. (Make sure my US SIM is not roaming.) With this set up, could I just forward my US number to a Skype account? Would it work the same way you describe while in PT?
My thought is that then when I come to US, I could make that SIM active/primary for data and still get calls through Skype. Would that work?
Thanks!
T.
Sorry for the late reply, but yes I think that would work great!
This was super helpful, thanks! I have one question - do I need to cancel my US phone plan after the number is ported or does that happen automatically when Google transfers the number over?
I believe its automatic but its good to call anyways. Just be sure to have fully paid for the phone before you port it.
@@alexdronesplaces1264 I have my plan until Sep 4. Can I port the number then? Do I need to port it before traveling?
I followed your steps carefully. But I don't understand the connection between Google Voice and Skype. Please help make that connection?
I wish I understood this too. how come we had to buy a Skype number? have you figured this out?
Hey, does it only work with US numbers ? Or can you set up your google voice account with an EU number? Thx
Do I need Skype if I’m going to get a SIM card and phone service with a provider out of the country?
Hi Alex, thanks for the video ! Something is not very clear to me though. Once you have ported your phone number, you can’t use it through your regular subscription anymore ? So I can’t use Google voice to make calls when I am abroad and use my cell phone and local subscription when I am back ? Is that right ? Thanks.
Porting your number to google voice moves your number from your service (verizon, etc) to google voice. So no, you wouldn't be using it through your original provider. You could use it as long as your connected to wifi or data.
I made an account for google voice, I made an account for Skype, and purchased the Skype number, I am currently waiting for the number to port but my question is, how do you use everything? all these apps but how do you makes a call on Skype or google voice? or do you I just use my regular way of calling people in the iPhone? Im really confused but followed all the steps, maybe add what to do after you port the number. like a video on which app to use. any help Alex? thank you.
I have the same question as Christine R. Is it that the Google Voice ported number will not *ring* on your cell phone you are now operating with a Portuguese sim card, even if you have the calls forwarded to the Portuguese number? So you can call out, but when others call you, you will not receive a sound alert? Thank you for walking us through the process. I've read about many different approaches to support US banking 2FA and US calls getting through to Portugal (or elsewhere). Listening and watching works best for me so again, thank you for taking the time to do this. Muito obrigado.
The downside to Google Voice is that you cannot link it to an international phone number, so it wouldn't work to have a Portuguese phone number link. I have a Portuguese number to make calls but have found that almost everything is done over Whatsapp for Portugal. Hope that helps!
@@alexdronesplaces1264 you can't link it to an international number but would you still be able to receive texts and calls through the google voice app when you have a sim card with data at least?
shouldn't GV be able to do all that? and shouldn't need skype? for example some call your old number thats ported to GV, GV should ring right?
Alex, we almost moved to Portugal 2 yrs ago...in 3 weeks we ARE moving to Spain!! Really nice video. Can I ask -- so we land in Spain on the 22nd and want to contact the company to help us with our 14 suitcases. Can you walk me though how we do something like this. My guess is I find a Wi-Fi and use phone to hook up to Skype and then use phone. Is that right. What's scary is to land and find no way to make calls (takes days to get a new phone in Spain). Gracias.
Hi Alex, My question is as follows: suppose I travel to a foreign country X (so I am outside the USA). I know I can call the USA from X (and vice-versa). But, can I (with Google Voice) call a local person or business in X while in X (assuming I am on WiFi or an Airola eSim)? If not, this would explain why the need/use for Skype, perhaps? I ask this because I do not want to bother with registering for an eSim card from a foreign country which can often be problematic (for example, cf. the new law in the Philippines as of Dec 2022).
Skype has international plans that you can get instead of the US only plan.
Thanks for the info! Could you tell me: Does Whatsapp still work under your old number?
Awesome Video Alex! thanks! Am I be able to get text messages with google voice?
Thanks! Yes you can get texts!
Thank you for your super help in this video. I was wondering why did you buy the extra calling feature (I know it's cheap) from Skype when you can call anyone in America free with Google Voice thru Wi-Fi calling? No offense. Just curious.
Is there any cutoff after a certain number of months on either GVoice and/or Skype? Google Fi was a good option until it cuts you off if you don't go back to the States within 90 days apparently
Hi Alex, I did not understand why do we need to pay for skype and the forwarding fee after we complete the porting step by paying $20 to google voice. After our number got ported to google voice wont we be getting calls directly?
Google Voice requires a forwarding number
@@alexdronesplaces1264 why not get another google voice number with a different email? Just trying to understand better
When you use your phone after porting it, and you call your family or friends, what number to they see? Will caller ID recognize me?
I plan to Google port my number because I am moving abroad. I understand that one needs to port PRIOR TO LEAVING the USA. Question: if I haven’t established a phone service/number in the country that I will be living, how can the porting be done prior to me leaving?
Thank you in advance!
Thanks for the video. It was useful. I have a question. Do we have to let our phone company know we are porting to google voice? Or once we have ported the number it cancel my subscription to that company automatically?
and if i need just my old number for sms otp verifications will google voice suffice no need for skype phone number?
We are retiring and moving to Mexico in about 14 months. When should we do this….right before we move ? Thx !
Thanks for the video, Alex but you needed to be more clear that we should be entering skype number when signing up for google voice and not the actual number we want to port. Now I am stuck in the account where the phone number I want to port is the one calls are being forwarded to. Doesn't seem to be a way to resolve this. You showed skype stuff in the end of the video but you actually were using skype number all along. This was very confusing although I should have guessed that you used your skype number since at one point you said "Sorry I am just looking at my skype number here".
Oh no. I hope I didn't make a misstep. Are we supposed to forward the google number to Skype after your original number is finished porting over to Google?
My daughter decided to stay in Italy after university- can she still do this set up from Italy?
Great video! Can you use Google Fi instead of Skype for the forwarding number?
Thanks! Sure Google Fi is a great option if you want to keep your number and travel a lot back to the US.
Thank you for the video. I was trying to set it up this week but I thinh you can no longer claim a google voice number with a Skype forwarding number. Google need a actual US number ( no Skype, prepaid, etc. ) to claim a voice number. Also does anyone know if the forwarding number and the number that I want to port later can be the same? Thanks so much
great video, : do you find that the more times you forward a call the mroe drops it potentially has duing the call.. I ( was looking at this, and ) (just thinking of forwarding my # from (att/carrier) to google voice) to skype) ( cuz it's just a 1 month trip..) i' could port # and just get a new cell # & keep google voice rining w/ my forever # is your point.. (however once once I realized google voice was 'just forwarding' outside the US.. (back to skype why was bought by microsoft and sold to facebook from 'back in the good ol days)..lol oh well. (they lost my contacts so many times-(tied to device not their own storage-cloud like google)..
What phone number do people in Portugal use to reach you if you don't have a Portuguese phone number? I understood everything until you got to the part about using a Skype phone number in the U.S. How do you receive confirmation numbers as texts etc without a Portuguese phone number? Thanks
Most people in Portugal use Whatsapp. So that is the biggest way I stay in contact with people. I receive my confirmation numbers from American companies to my Google Voice and phone calls as well, but Skype forwards the call so it rings on my phone.
For my bank in Portugal, they send me a confirmation number to my Portuguese number, which I pay 10 euros a month for.
I think the most important thing is to put these in categories.
Google Voice is where my phone number was ported too. Skype forwards the calls, so they ring. All my American calls/texts live within Google Voice.
Whatsapp is amazing and the way I stay in contact with my tech savy friends/family and my european friends and most (if not all businesses in Portugal)
I pay for a data plan in Portugal so I can stay connected. I have received a phone call on my actual PT number once, from the electricity company. Everything else in Europe is via Whatsapp.
So if you port to your local phone number say Portugal, then you pay international rates to call the US using google voice?
Hi Alex! Thank you so much for posting this! It's much clearer now (I read on someone's blog, it sounded complicated)
The only question I ask is how about Whatsapp? Do I just connect to the local wifi wherever I am?
Thank you again, PT is a great country! Maybe one day I'll go there.
We are doing this mostly for banking/financial two step verification. Then in Mexico we can keep the number, buy a sim card from AT&T or Telcel, and I am all set ? Thank you so much !
I guess my other option would be doing all my two step verification over email rather than text ? Thx !
Thanks Alex for this - it's been super helpful! I moved recently and I paid $20 to port my Verizon number.. I also set up a Skype number and have forwarded calls to that Skype number.. The google voice number is apparently temporary and will expire in 3 months.. I see that I can make it permanent by paying $20.. My question is - do I need to pay the $20 to make the google voice number permanent if I am continue receiving calls on my skype account beyond the first 3 months?
There should only be a $20 one time fee to port it over, but they could have changed things recently. I am sorry I don't have the answer for that one.
Thanks for the vlog, couldn’t you bypass paying for the Skype #, and pay for the Google # (that’s an option with google) and have calls forwarded from the number your ported. Also why don’t you want to do this until you are at the airport, I would want to make sure every thing is working and not wait until the last minute
thanks for this video! Im visiting ireland and uk for a month and will be getting local sim cards. I only have one sim port so ill have to remove my US sim card. If i port my US number to google voice, then any texts sent to me will be sent through the Google Voice app? I wonder why you'd want to link a number vs port your us number..
How do you go back to that number when your done in the country you are going to stay? Thanks Michael
Hello thanks for the information
I have a quick question please
Can i after porting my USA number to verify my existing applications and banks account like IM in usa or no
Thank you
I’ve watched numerous times and still lost. Do I connect the Google voice and Skype accounts somehow? Is communication don’t only through the Google voice app? Only through Skype? Some of both?
Hi: I just arrived in Ecuador from U.S. I made a mistake of not setting up my Google Voice and port my U.S. number when I was in U.S. I am trying to set up Google voice now with my VPN on a U.S. server. But I am not receiving any of the codes that Google voice sends me during set up. I even bought a Skype number, but I am not receiving the code via that number either. Help!
YOu have to give somebody your password so when google send the number they will send it to you.
Alex, I am moving to Ecuador soon and will follow your instructions and get set up and ported just before I leave but...when I get to Ecuador and get set up with a local service provider can't I just have my old phone number forwarded to my Ecuador number and not have to worry about Skype unless I intend to go outside Ecuador? Yes I subscribed.
I have the same question
@@nuncleTim I doubt he'll answer as it's been a month and I even subscribed too.
Thanks Alex! This is so helpful. I have read all the comments and still have questions. I am a missionary in the Philippines for 18 months. I followed your instructions and ported my US phone number to Google Voice. I also signed up for Skype. I have an apple phone. I bought a local SIM card. I don’t know where to receive my texts and calls or how google voice and Skype communicate. Sometimes I get calls through my regular apple method and sometimes I get different ones when I go to the Google Voice app. I get different ones in my Skype app. I haven’t figured out how they all work together yet. Any help?
After sweating out all this stuff about keeping my phone number etc., I arrived in Vietnam two months ago just to find out that my old iPhone 8 with my original California phone number works just fine as long as I switch on Wi-Fi calling.
Phone calls are free. Just like I’m sitting on my couch back home. I repeat, as long as you’re on Wi-Fi, and you activate the Wi-Fi calling switch on your phone, your calls home are FREE.
Im going to be in vn in a week i still have problem with this phone thing, i got mint mobile and im also in cali now, i need to port my number to google voice, i dont know why he is going through all of these if your phone will work in vn. This is confusing.
Hi i may have a slightly different issue..perhaps you can shed light. I unfortunatley have to make an international call using my OWN phone number. I need to call a government office overseas and they need to see that i am calling from my OWN number because this is how they can identify me. So my question is, can i use a calling app that will show my OWN mobile number when i dail these govt. offices? Why you may ask i go through all this? To save $$$ on a huge bill that i will be facing if i made a direct call via my mobile carrier...even with their international calling plan because i expect to be left hanging (on hold) for a long time before i get my issues resolved. Any advice cheerfully accepted.
Why not just use google voice to now call back to the states via data once its ported in?
Unfortunately, I didn't see this video until after I left the U.S. If you are outside the US and use a VPN would the process work?
I'm a little confused. Do you use the Skype app or the Google Voice app to answer and make your international calls? And, what about calls in your European country (or wherever)? Do the recipients of those calls think you are calling from the United States even though you are in, I dunno, Paris? Thanks!
Also...did you mention in this video swapping out the SIM card when you get to another country? Isn't THAT necessary? I'm going to Thailand and the SIM swap is crucial.
Thank you Alex for your excellent Google Voice video. I live in UK and need to use my US phone number to contact family, bank, etc. in USA. I have downloaded Google Voice App on my US phone and received a Google phone number and provided my US phone number for verification. I did that prior to watching your video. I believe this is where I have gone wrong? I should have purchased a Skype phone number and provided that to Google Voice for verification. Then when ready to leave USA in 2 weeks time to port my current US cell number. How can I amend the process?
Thanks Nadereh
The Google Voice instructions seem clear. I'm having trouble understanding why Skype needs to be involved. I already have a VPN so it looks like I'll still be in the US.
Hello Alex but if I move let’s say in Canada and wanna call United States doesn’t still count that 3 USD ?
I have a prepaid AT&T phone will this work for me? I own the phone.
Google voice used to be able to call people in the USA via data
Can i just use google voice without porting my number for dual authentication
Alex - this REALLY helped my wife out as far as a good overview of a plan that will absolutely work. a couple of follow up questions if you dont mind.
1. with your steps - we will NOT require any cellular plan (unless coming back to visit the USA) is that correct?
2. are there any apps installed on the cell phone itself or is everything install on our laptop?
3. with your steps - we do NOT need duel sim phones correct?
4. what PT provider offers the better unlimited data plans in your opinion?
Obrigado,
Brian
Sorry for the late reply!
1. Yes as long as you have WIFI. But you will need some sort of connection to access data. You could get a small monthly plan or an unlimited plan.
2. Yes I have google voice and skype downloaded as my apps
3. You do not need dual SIMs - I have a Portuguese sim card in my phone that gives me the connection to data
4. NOS has been my all time favorite for the price and the coverage all over Portugal. It was 25€ but now it is 30€. There is no contract. If you are going to be on Madeira I would use MEO as it has a better coverage area.
Hope this helps!
@@alexdronesplaces1264 Alex!!!! everything worked just as described. On the Google Voice performance - once I received the email that the porting was completed, we still had to wait another 3-4 hours before anyone could call my ported number...it gave responde of "Cannot be completed as dialed", worked great if they called the google voice #, my dialing worked just fine. Once I got here I went to the NOS store and they set me up with a nice pay by the month for 19 euro. thanks again for the great video that made it so easy for a baby boomer like me to follow.
@@briansparks3385 So happy it works for you!!
So google voice is for receiving calls and Skype for calling the US? How's Google voice linked to Skype ?
also, how does this all talk? I created the google voice, and got a fake number, waiting on the ported number, I get that. then I made a Skype and purchased a number for $40. when my number is ported to google voice how does Skype know to reroute the number? I also noticed you cant even use the Skype number because it makes you pay for it each call. Couldn't I just have ported my number to google voice and bought a sim? what is the point of buying this Skype number?
What did you mean you had to setup all your two factor authentications with banks and services etc, BEFORE porting your number to google voice?
Can I port my US number from Google Voice to my existing foreign mobile number instead of to Skype #?
Question: Once you're ported your number with Google Voice and bought a skype number, you also have to get a new sim card in the country that you're moving to in order for the phone to work, right? Wouldn't that mean that the new sim card would come with another local phone number? Seems like once you have a new sim card, people in the US should be able to call your phone while you're abroad, but what about the phone number that came along with the new sim card? Can people in the new country call that too?? Just a bit confused..
same question
@@misshulagirl05 the new country call you on that country number, the usa call your old number and it will forwarded that call to the number from the new country, since that new number got data and wifi.
I'm a bit confused. Why do you need Skype when you have ported your original number to Google Voice? I have seen a few videos that say they have no problem receiving/making calls abroad (providing you have internet) with Google Voice from the USA and Canada. Am I missing something here?
His fault for not mentioning this but google voice charges proper international roaming rates for phone calls I believe. That is why. That adds up quick and is a lot of money in the long run if you make even just semi regular calls.
Is it possible to use free google voice number in USA as main phone number. and whenever travel to other country buy skype number for 1 month or 3 month. And do this setup ?
I don't get it. I live in Europe and visit the US once a year like the person in the video, so check. I own my phone: check. However, do you mean, own your phone NUMBER? Because I lost my U.S. phone number ages ago and got a European number (SIM card). Wow, these instructions are the hardest puzzle, and I'm learning German. This is harder. Thanks for trying though!
So when you don’t need this service- can you port your number to like Verizon Att
Hi Alex, can you give any advice on how to use Whatsapp after you port your # to Google Voice? I'm reading you can no longer use a GV # or a Skype # with Whatsapp. Thanks in advance...this is super helpful!
Wait i got it all the way to getting a google voice number but you did not say what i need to do the linking
Hello maybe someone can please help me. My USA phone carrier is Metro by T-Mobile and last year when I visited Greece for two weeks I could not sign onto any of my bank accounts or gmail and hotmail accounts because it kept on sending me a verification code to my USA number and because I was in Greece Metro By T Mobile did not deliver those texts as I found out the hard way they only forward texts in USA or Canada but not Europe. Now I'm planning another visit to Greece in one week and I want to receive texts to my USA number while I'm there so I can pass a 2 factor authentication or verification with a code. Can I use Skype and link my US number to it so I can receive texts because in Greece I will be getting a sim card for my phone which will have a local number there but not my USA number so I won't be able to get texts and won't be able to log onto any of my bank accounts or gmail and /or hotmail or yahoo accounts - any suggestions?
hi Alex - super helpful. Any idea if it just as easy using Whatsapp rather than Skype?
Thank you for this helpful video! I have a question, so which phone number I will use in my bank/social media accounts for the FA? The google voice or the skype? If I understood it correctly, I want to change it to the google voice # since it's forwarding the skype number? Is that correct?
Google Voice! Or you could use either really. BUT its important that the 2FA is set up before you port. If you already have that set up to the number you will port then you do not need to change anything. Google Voice will recieve that text and you can see that 2FA in the app or they will even send an email. Hope that makes sense!
@@alexdronesplaces1264 thank you!
Hi, I know this doesn't matter much for you now as your comment is 2 years old haha, but for anyone in the future - Google Fi only lets you be out of the country for 2 or 3 months at a time, its more for travelers instead of people moving. Hope you got it sorted! :)
Thank You for the tutorial but Im a little confused. Im in the US but going to travel to the UK to sort out some things as Im orginally from there. So I want to keep a UK number active for people to be able to reach me when I come back to the US. If I buy a UK number on Skype, its a landline number only. I want a mobile number so my bank can send me a code when they need to verify me when I am abroad. What do I need to do? Please advise. Thank You.
Im not totally sure if this is correct. But are you sure if you buy a Skype number its a landline in the UK? Because skype is a voice over internet system, so I have never heard of it being a landline. But for your bank I am pretty sure you can give them your US number, as they can text any number. Hope that helps!
@@alexdronesplaces1264 Hello, Thank You for your reply. Yes on Skype, a UK number is ID enabled an a landline number. They do not provide mobile numbers with a two way text service unfortunately. So when I leave the UK to go back to the US, my bank has no way to contact me as they dont call International numbers. Kinda annoying. Im wondering if I can forward a UK mobile number to Skype and pick up the mobile calls from my Skype but not sure if my texts will come through on Skype.