I am very protective of my (personal) cell phone number. I only give it to family and close friends. I do not want to be bothered with business calls for another project when I am out working as usually the info that they would want is back in the office. I can call out for business using caller-ID blocking (*67). However, I rarely find that it would be beneficial for a client to get ahold of me on my cell. What I would like is to have more then 1 number (3 actually ~ personal, business & non-profit volunteer) to all ring into the same phone (android), and when it rings be able to see what line they are calling into so I can make the decision to answer a number I don't know. As an extension be able to silence a line during certain times (business at night/weekends or personal during the day) Separate voicemails would probably be a good idea too. And here is the big one, when you return dial - have the phone use the number that they called you on as a return caller-ID. That way people could not get your personal cell number, or a number that you do not want them to have.
Anyone heard of such a setup?
🙂
Yes: Google Voice is the answer.
The voicemail to text transcription is nothing short of amazing.
Amazing is certainly one way to describe it. Entertaining is more how I would describe it. Mine tends to read like it takes random words from the dictionary and just toss them out as it pleases.
Why do I have to create an account just to find out what this is?
Dual SIM Phone?
I know when I was shopping for smartphones to take to Beijing I could get dual SIM phones which would allow two lines on one phone. Unfortunately, I don't think it works here. I think it had something to do with their network being GSM instead of CDMA.
I understand that not only do we pay higher fees for cell service, what we do pay for is not as good as overseas. I suppose if the cell companies are already milking you, there's no reason to improve.
[EDIT] In searching the internet, there seems to be no solid information about using dual SIM cellphones in the United States. It might be possible but I'm not sufficiently knowledgeable to make that determination. Might also depend on where you are located and what kind of service is available there.
My kids have ipods not phones. I have a magic jack phone number (purchased/ inexpensive) with local extension.
Via the magic-jack 'app', when they are connected to Wi-Fi, they can call/ answer/ ID just like a landline.
Since I wanted to keep tabs, I put the 'app' on my iPHONE. Not only can I use it on Wi-Fi, I can enable cellular data for the app and dial/ receive/ ID just like it's my phone as long as I'm in decent coverage.
That means I can use my cell or my "landline" from the same smartphone.
So, I think you could do the same and get one of your secondary numbers behaving like you described.
I don't know if any smartphone could handle the same app, twice. So, I don't know how you could add a third line in the same fashion. Maybe there is a way to toggle between MJ numbers (I don't know because I've only got one).
However, maybe you could have one MJ, one google and your cell?
For that matter, I'm sure there are other voip app's that you could install. But, I know MJ allows you to have an area code based on where you live.
Now that I've typed this out, sounds FUBAR. I say stick to your call'em back tomorrow scheme. 😉
Cell phones can only have one number.
I use call forwarding to my cell phone.
It still rings at the house and/or office a few times.
What I dislike is that once you have chosen the number of rings before call goes to voice mail, you can not change it to any more or less rings.
Most calls I only hear 2 or 3 rings then it goes to voice mail.
I'm just not sure if that's true, Alan. It seems like GSM networks may be able to support dual lines.
If you search WalMart's website for "dual sim", they have a surprising number of results.
http://www.walmart.com/search/?query=dual%20sim
The same is true on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_sc_0_7?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=dual+sim&sprefix=dul+sim%2Caps%2C160
With a dual sim card phone and the use of Google voice or Ring.To, you could effectively have up to six numbers on one phone (sim1 w/ GV & RT) + (sim2 w/ GV & RT).
To use Ring.to (RT) you need to port a phone number to their service. You can get around this by using the GrooveIP app on Android. When you sign up with GrooveIP you can get a brand new number from RT, which you can then use to forward calls to your other number. If you don't want to use GrooveIP to make and receive calls, just uninstall it after you get your new number, and you still have your RT account and number.
In the settings for Google Voice (GV) you can choose to make incoming calls show the incoming call number or your GV number. By setting it to show your GV number you can know which "line" the incoming call is coming from. The drawback to this is that you won't know who is calling.
Keith
Just like "Magic Jack," Skype has an ability to forward calls to your cell phone. You need a "subscription" and purchase the phone number, but its like $30 per year for unlimited calling to anywhere in US or Canada.
Just setup your Skype number to forward to your mobile number.
OR, run the app on the smart phone.
SO, Google Voice gets you a number
Skype gets you a number
Magic Jack gets you a number.
options abound!
I ask for two numbers for one cell phone when I got first signed up for a cell phone.
Was told by every phone company I talked with that is an FCC thing, only one number per phone.
It may have been a mere excuse for them to not exceed the capabilities of what they provide.
Not all providers will allow usage of all phones available, they pick the ones they will include and the rest are out.
I have a BLU Studio 5.0 HD that I purchased unlocked on Amazon for $120 new. It has 2 sim card slots built in. You can then purchase sim cards from Straight Talk for $5 each. You then can port 2 of your existing numbers into Straight Talk online. Cost is $45+tax/month for each number. EZ squeezy.
Dual sim phones do not function as you believe they do. A dual sim phone simply has the option to go into your settings, and select one SIM card or the other, rather than carrying a SIM card outside the phone. If your phone is set to simcard a, you will not recover calls to the number attached to simcard b. To swap between the two, you have to go into your settings, select the card to use, and wait for your phone to reboot to the new network.
Not really setup for simultaneous dual usage, but good if you travel a lot between two countries, with different providers.
Google voice would fit your needs, assuming there are lines available in your area.......
That's good to know. The descriptions given on several of the dual SIM phones make it sound as if both SIM cards are active simultaneously.
So I have done a bit more research with the info you guys gave me. Google voice looks like a decent option, and looks like you can trick it to add 2 lines (maybe not easy), but it amazingly is free. The on-line documentation sucks though. Kinda tough to see what you need/are getting.
line2.com is also an option to get another line, and it is only $10/month
I am thinking that I will try GV for biz, and then just forward the non-profit phone to my personal. That way I can call out on 2, and receive 3.
IDK, how nice would it be to just carry one phone, and when a call come in, you can see the caller ID like normal, and the screen is tinted red or business, green for volunteer, and blue for personal? Right now if I have things forwarded I get a call from a number I don't know on the weekend, I usually answer it. BUT, if that screen was tinted red, let that sucker go to voicemail!
Something tells me that it would be popular if ATT were to add the option though.
