How to keep using NZ mobile number when overseas? Which app?

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Hoff

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#228597 13-Jan-2018 17:54

How can I keep using my current NZ mobile number fully while overseas?

My iPhone will have a local number in that country, so people there can call/text me. Need any calls/texts to my NZ number forwarded to my iPhone in the new country.

Similar to how Whatsapp keeps sending you texts to your NZ number when you're overseas on wifi. But that's only for people inside the app, and phone calls from normal mobiles or land lines don't get through. Basically if a business or friend calls me from a normal phone mobile or landline, I want them to get through while I'm overseas.

Should be an app for that?

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#1938216 13-Jan-2018 17:57

Call diversion

https://www.spark.co.nz/myspark/mymobile/managecalls/calldiversion

http://help.vodafone.co.nz/app/answers/detail/a_id/26492/~/forward-a-call-from-your-mobile

Peppery

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#1938221 13-Jan-2018 18:08

Whenever I travel I take an old iPhone 5C and put my NZ SIM into that. It stays at home, but on WiFi and with iMessage etc set up so any iMessages at least go to the local phone.

Linux

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#1938225 13-Jan-2018 18:23

2Degrees Wi-Fi calling and no roaming charges

Linux

Hoff

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#1938249 13-Jan-2018 18:59

Thanks for replies.

I'm going overseas for a year or more. Want to cancel my NZ phone plan, but have an app that still lets me use my NZ number. So old friends/businesses can still get ahold of me.

Or could get a different NZ number through the app if I have to use their number. Rather port my old one though.

Shoes2468

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#1938273 13-Jan-2018 19:50

Linux: 2Degrees Wi-Fi calling and no roaming charges

Linux

This sounds like the best plan, change your plan down to prepaid or something the Use wifi calling, but it is only available on s8 at the moment more phones to come.

Alternatively if you just want a phone number for people to call you could get 2talk local or 028 number. Actually you might be able to txt from 2talk too.

eracode

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#1938441 14-Jan-2018 01:31

Shoes2468:
Linux: 2Degrees Wi-Fi calling and no roaming charges

Linux

This sounds like the best plan, change your plan down to prepaid or something the Use wifi calling, but it is only available on s8 at the moment more phones to come.

Alternatively if you just want a phone number for people to call you could get 2talk local or 028 number. Actually you might be able to txt from 2talk too.

Coming to iPhones very soon I believe.

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Hoff

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#1938718 14-Jan-2018 19:09

eracode:
Shoes2468:
Linux: 2Degrees Wi-Fi calling and no roaming charges

Linux

This sounds like the best plan, change your plan down to prepaid or something the Use wifi calling, but it is only available on s8 at the moment more phones to come.

Alternatively if you just want a phone number for people to call you could get 2talk local or 028 number. Actually you might be able to txt from 2talk too.

Coming to iPhones very soon I believe.

That 2 Degrees wifi calling would be great. Problem is I didn't get my phone from them, and I'm overseas already, so can't go to them to get their software update. So even when it comes for iPhone, I won't be able to use it. Unless they make it an app.

"Only phones sold with 2degrees software installed will work for WiFi Calling. If you purchased your Samsung 8 or 8+ from another mobile provider in NZ, it will need a software upgrade. Simply bring your phone into any 2degrees store and we’ll help sort this out for you."

"Currently, WiFi Calling is available for any 2degrees customer with a Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8+ phone*. Throughout 2018 we will make WiFi Calling available on many other devices, so stay tuned."

But actually, it sounds like I'd still need to have their sim card in my phone overseas. Which doesn't work because I need that country's sim in my phone. And don't want to leave a second phone on all day for the rare time someone will call my NZ number.

Really need an app that will do this. Will check the 2talk app. Any others?

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raytaylor

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#1938744 14-Jan-2018 20:18

No such thing as an "app" that does it. You need your mobile number on an active mobile plan with one of the three service providers.

You then have to call-forward or somehow have remote access to the phone in NZ.

Ray Taylor

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DarkShadow

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#1938815 14-Jan-2018 22:45

Which country are you in? Do they have VoIP there? Some VoIP providers have international numbers, you can check if they provide NZ ones.

ANglEAUT

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#1938817 14-Jan-2018 22:56

Hoff: ... Want to cancel my NZ phone plan, ...

You do that, you lose your NZ number

raytaylor: No such thing as an "app" that does it. You need your mobile number on an active mobile plan with one of the three service providers.
You then have to call-forward or somehow have remote access to the phone in NZ.

Emphasis mine

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Hoff

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#1940141 16-Jan-2018 20:25

Thanks everybody

DarkShadow:

Which country are you in? Do they have VoIP there? Some VoIP providers have international numbers, you can check if they provide NZ ones.

I'm in the States. Lots of VoIP it seems. But starting around $10USD/mo, which is too much for very infrequent calls.

raytaylor:

No such thing as an "app" that does it. You need your mobile number on an active mobile plan with one of the three service providers.

Maybe not for my current mobile number I guess? But I'm open to getting an app, like 2Talk, and using whatever 028 number they give me.

Any other app recommendations? In the States there's heaps that allow you to add a second phone number on your mobile. Just need one that offers NZ numbers.

Aredwood

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#1949792 1-Feb-2018 04:13

Either way, you will need to maintain an active NZ Number. What you are wanting to do is to squat on a number. Which won't work well if that number gets assigned to someone else.

Easiest way would be to just buy a dual SIM phone.

lxsw20

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#1949794 1-Feb-2018 06:07

I just put mine in a second phone now I'm living in the UK. Not sure of any other options on that.

nathan

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#1949797 1-Feb-2018 07:24

Aredwood: Either way, you will need to maintain an active NZ Number. What you are wanting to do is to squat on a number. Which won't work well if that number gets assigned to someone else.

Easiest way would be to just buy a dual SIM phone.

that's what I've done. Been living in US for 3 years now, and still have my NZ Voda number running in a dual SIM phone.

Linuxluver

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#1949801 1-Feb-2018 07:44

Hoff:

How can I keep using my current NZ mobile number fully while overseas?

My iPhone will have a local number in that country, so people there can call/text me. Need any calls/texts to my NZ number forwarded to my iPhone in the new country.

Similar to how Whatsapp keeps sending you texts to your NZ number when you're overseas on wifi. But that's only for people inside the app, and phone calls from normal mobiles or land lines don't get through. Basically if a business or friend calls me from a normal phone mobile or landline, I want them to get through while I'm overseas.

Should be an app for that?

I just pay some money for roaming. If calls are very occasional, it doesn't cost much for a couple of 2 minutes calls each month.

If you're planning on talking for hours, then just use Skype or something similar.

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