Do you use a second phone number?

[Out of Steam]

Given the number of businesses that use or require cell phone numbers, and the resulting text messages, do you have a second phone number for such purposes? Like my second email address, it would be for accounts I don't need to monitor continuously.

I'm thinking that something like Google Voice would work for this purpose.

 

[COcheesehead]

No. I find it easy to manage one number. Text spam is easier to deal with on a cell phone vs email spam. So many service providers use text, I would find it harder to manage multiple numbers.
Google voice has some issues related to code hacking, FYI. I almost had it happen to me.

 

[joesxm3]

I have a second phone that I use to call my primary phone when I can't remember where I left it. I also used to use the second phone to run my authenticator app, but the battery has worn out so I keep it on the charger and copied my app to the main phone.

I while ago I tried to order a new second phone but it refused saying that I needed to call to order. No sure if that was because of simm swapping lock or because I am on a really sweet two phones for $30/month deal that they need to talk me out of.

 

[Beststash]

I have a phone that I use for any texts or 2FA and give to a few friends so they can send photos, etc. I keep it next to my desktop on silent and check in the morning and once in the evening - unless I need for a code or expected photo. This is the number I put in at all online apps. It is convenient next to desktop because I use Phone Link so I can respond or text via my desktop keyboard.
I seldom use it as a smartphone - just not interested. I use a flip phone when I travel and a landline as my primary phone number. I prefer to talk for communication purposes.

 

[CaptTom]

The problem is that some 2FA systems won't allow Google Voice or other VOIP numbers. Basically, they want to tie to something authenticated. You need to prove your identity to get a "real" phone these days. Likewise for e-mail accounts.

I agree that's generally a good thing, but part of me is concerned about descending into a surveillance state. I don't want to make things easy for criminals, but on the other hand there are times when law-abiding citizens might want to be anonymous, too.

 

[Handymike]

I have a landline that I used for my business for 40 years. It gets 50 spam calls per day, all leave no message so it is easy to sort out the junk. I have a cell that I use for text and give to customers , friends to reach me. Virtually no spam on it. Controlled access.

 

[JDARNELL]

Yes I have a google voice number that I can route to different phones if needed.

 

[big-papa]

Given the number of businesses that use or require cell phone numbers, and the resulting text messages, do you have a second phone number for such purposes? Like my second email address, it would be for accounts I don't need to monitor continuously.

I'm thinking that something like Google Voice would work for this purpose.

I have 2 numbers, but that's not why
- My mobile number for everyday calls and texts from whomever
- My number formerly known as "a land line number" but now is voice over IP through Ooma. It's for all of those relatives, business, etc. that only ever had this number or have it as an alternative number. When the Ooma box dies, I'm porting this number over to Google Voice.

Cheers.

 

[target2019]

I use a Google voice number when shady peeps request a number. On my regular mobile Google screens most numbers.

 

[Sojourner]

I have two iPhones: my primary phone tied to my long-time, personal mobile number, and a "backup/spare" phone on a very low cost MVNO plan with a different number. I inherited the second iPhone and decided to keep it rather than sell it. Figured I could use a backup/spare phone and phone number more than I could use a few hundred extra dollars. Plus, it's a very gently used iPhone that's one year newer than my main phone.

 

[SouthernHeaven]

I setup a Google Voice number sometime around 2010 ish. Nowadays, that is the number my tenants and vendors use to communicate with me, not my "real" mobile number

I like the ability to reply to texts using a web browser.

 

[athena53]

I have my "real phone"- an Apple IPhone with a number I've had for years- and a MagicJack number, which used to work on a physical phone in the house but no longer does after Google Fiber upgraded the equipment. I downloaded the app and that's a good workaround.

I supply the MagicJack number when I suspect the business will throw it into a marketing database. That's where 99% of my spam calls come from and most of that disconnects within a few seconds if I don't answer. I also get laughable texts telling me what lucrative jobs are a prefect fit for me.

I really don't like having my entire life tied to a phone number. The one on my physical phone is a Kansas area code except I now live in Missouri and I'm about to move to Iowa. I'd love to get an Iowa number but I know darn well I'll forget some important account that uses 2-factor ID and will want to send a message to a phone number I no longer have and I'll be shut out.

 

[tulak]

I ported my landline number to Google Voice a long time ago. That's the number I give out.

I'm not crazy protective of my cell number, but I try to minimize giving it out. Luckily Apple has added features to prevent spam calls from bothering me.

 

[MC Rider]

I'd love to get an Iowa number but I know darn well I'll forget some important account that uses 2-factor ID and will want to send a message to a phone number I no longer have and I'll be shut out.

We got a local "land line" number when we moved, it was $5 a month for the first year. At year end I cancelled because it rarely got used.

Kept the old number for the reason above, although it is not the "local" area code. Which is irrelevant now anyway.

 

[GenXguy]

I have a google voice number and a backup phone with its own number, but I stick to using my main cell number. I get very few spam texts. And most spam calls are blocked, and I don't answer the unknown numbers.

 

[G-Money]

Google Voice number. Free.

I use it for all sorts of things from Craigslist/Marketplace sales to when I need to provide a phone number to someone/something I really don't want to have my actual cell number that I've had for 25 years. That number is for close friends, family, personal business, my healthcare providers, and a few cherished colleagues. Everybody else gets the Google Voice number.

 

[GenXguy]

A friend of mine accidentally called my google voice number which I gave him a long time ago when I had to pay for text messages. Anyway, it rang through and showed in my call log as if he called my regular cell number. I didn't get the call answered, and he left a voice mail, that went to my google voice mail, which is the only thing that made me aware that he had called the google number. Indeed, he had only called once and it was to my google voice number. There was no indication of it in google voice other than the voice mail. It showed as a missed call in my regular cell phone call log. And interestingly, my call forwarding options in google voice were turned off. But in further testing, it was still forwarding the calls to my cell number. So, with some additional testing, I determined I needed to unlink my cell number from google voice completely to resolve it.

 

[DayDreaming]

I have 2 numbers, but that's not why
- My mobile number for everyday calls and texts from whomever
- My number formerly known as "a land line number" but now is voice over IP through Ooma. It's for all of those relatives, business, etc. that only ever had this number or have it as an alternative number. When the Ooma box dies, I'm porting this number over to Google Voice.

Cheers.

Same here - I give my Ooma landline number to anyone or any business that doesn't need immediate access to me, which is most people / businesses. Guess I'm an old curmudgeon, and I hate getting phone calls when I'm out somewhere, unless it's really important.

 

[badatmath]

I haven't found a good solution cause so many places want 2FA even for a new email account and they won't take VOIP. I give out my landline sometimes since no one is interested if they can't text me crap.

 

[Out of Steam]

I ported my landline number to Google Voice a long time ago. That's the number I give out.

I'm not crazy protective of my cell number, but I try to minimize giving it out. Luckily Apple has added features to prevent spam calls from bothering me.

I thought of porting the landline of our old house over to Google Voice before we moved, but didn't. I have an iPhone, and Apple does a pretty good job with filtering spam, but I'd prefer not to clutter my personal phone with commercial messages at all.

 

[scrabbler1]

I have a landline (VOIP since 2016) which I use for nearly all my calls. I have a simple flip-phone cell phone I rarely use, mainly for the rare texts such as 2FA codes and if I happen to be out and need to use the phone, also rare. I have given out that cell number to maybe 20 people, so most of the calls I get are junk/spam calls, a minor annoyance. I pay about $6 a month for the cell phone service.

 

[Cobra9777]

Same as a couple prior posters, our former landline number lives on as a free Google Voice number. We still use it with our landline handsets thanks to an Obi-200 VoIP device that somehow still works.

But mainly we use it with our cellphones. We each have the GV app on our phones configured for that Google account. So we use it for conventional voice/text communication anywhere we have a data connection, like international travel with Airalo.

We also use it as a throw-away or alternate number when needed. But we mainly use our regular cell numbers for 2FA and similar purposes. GV is VoIP and sometimes gets rejected by certain services and 2FA. But I haven't seen that in a very long time.

 

[old medic]

2 numbers... mine and DW... no landline.

 

[MdaPetralia]

I use Ooma (VOIP) for my primary number that I give out and use for 2FA calls only (no text messages). This is my main number I give out that will ring my phones at home. I also have it setup for simultaneous ring (a great feature) where it will also ring a 2nd phone number which is my cell number. So 2FA calls, and all other calls, will also go to my cell. I only give out my cell number to relatives/friends. If my cell phone ever gets lost or SIM swapped, I can go to Ooma.com and remove or change the simultaneous ring number.

 

[dobig]

My wife uses a cell. I use a landline. We live out in the woods and I'm never buying one of those damn noisemakers that will disturb my peace.

If you need to get in touch with me, leave a message. Chances are I'll listen to them within a week.