Author Topic: Do you know how to get a free phone number for business?  (Read 1888 times)

SmileAllDay

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Do you know how to get a free phone number for business?
« on: May 14, 2019, 04:10:00 AM »
Hey all! Here's my issue:

I'm helping my wife to verify her vacation planning business on Google for reviews—after nearly 4 years(!!!)—but we don't want to put her personal phone number online.

My initial idea was to get a Google Voice number that forwarded voice mails to her personal number. However (there's always a 'however' with me and tech), as we both use the Google Fi network, Google Voice isn't an option.

Does anyone have a smarter, Mustachian idea that will allow her to have a 'business number' online without paying for another phone line?

You all rock!

reeshau

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Re: Do you know how to get a free phone number for business?
« Reply #1 on: May 15, 2019, 02:12:26 AM »
It's not free,  ($5.99/mo) but I use iPlum to maintain our old US phone number after moving in Europe.  If you ever plan on her business growing, you might consider a solution that will grow with you: iPlum can support multiple numbers on an account, and even an IVR/menuing system.  I picked iPlum because it's one of the few VOIP services that allowed me to transfer in a number--which also means you can transfer out.  They even have toll free numbers available, if you went big time.

HipGnosis

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Re: Do you know how to get a free phone number for business?
« Reply #2 on: May 15, 2019, 08:06:27 AM »
Not free, but just a one time cost
Obi (formerly ObiHai?).
https://www.obitalk.com/info/products

SmileAllDay

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Re: Do you know how to get a free phone number for business?
« Reply #3 on: May 15, 2019, 02:24:14 PM »
Thanks a lot you two. I'll check them out for sure.

I feel like there's gotta be alternative to Google Voice... There's just GOTTA be! 😁

adrianmorrell

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Re: Do you know how to get a free phone number for business?
« Reply #4 on: May 15, 2019, 02:26:06 PM »
How about create a new Gmail account, then create a Google Voice phone number associated with that new account?

Adrian

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CowboyAndIndian

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Re: Do you know how to get a free phone number for business?
« Reply #5 on: May 15, 2019, 04:26:47 PM »
My initial idea was to get a Google Voice number that forwarded voice mails to her personal number. However (there's always a 'however' with me and tech), as we both use the Google Fi network, Google Voice isn't an option.
Still a good idea. Get a new email address and you can get a google voice number for this. I have Google Fi which uses my primary email and I got an extra gmail account when I needed google voice.

Not free, but just a one time cost
Obi (formerly ObiHai?).
https://www.obitalk.com/info/products

Link your google voice with the Obi and you have a great free solution for a one time cost of the Obi device. This is the Obi device I used https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BUV7C9A/

I ported my home (Land line) number to Obi/Google voice and now my only cost is $9/year for the 911 directory. If you have any questions on how to do this, ask away.
« Last Edit: May 15, 2019, 04:30:52 PM by CowboyAndIndian »

snuka

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Re: Do you know how to get a free phone number for business?
« Reply #6 on: May 15, 2019, 09:05:05 PM »
Thanks a lot you two. I'll check them out for sure.

I feel like there's gotta be alternative to Google Voice... There's just GOTTA be! 😁

What's wrong with Google Voice?  I'm a fan.

SmileAllDay

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Re: Do you know how to get a free phone number for business?
« Reply #7 on: May 16, 2019, 12:29:01 AM »
Hey @snuka that's the whole issue I'm posting about. You can't use it along with Google Fi's phone service. It's either or, unfortunately, because I'm also a fan.