Virtual mobile number with voice + sms forwarding to a real mobile

Forums › VoIP › Virtual mobile number with voice + sms forwarding to a real mobile

rcoup

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#150694 31-Jul-2014 08:54

Hi folks,

I'm trying to figure out if this is a "thing" in NZ. Ideally I want a phone number where both SMS & voice calls can be forwarded through to a real mobile number (of the on-call person for the day).

I know I can forward voice calls via a number of methods (eg. 2talk or other landline number + SIP forwarding is an obvious one), but I've only found reasonably old posts saying that text messages won't forward. Someone implied there are some 028 numbers which are seen as "mobiles" and therefore could receive SMS?

There's no way I'm getting my team to carry two phones!

Cheers :)

kenkeniff

628 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 88

#1099014 31-Jul-2014 09:21

2talk app is the only thing I'm aware of that does this all-in-one sort of thing: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumId=43&topicId=138524

i.e. Register an 028 2talk number, have your staff all download the 2talk connect app and whoever's on-call logs into the apps to send/receive calls & sms.

Note there may be limitations which numbers 2talk can send/receive sms to/from, also it only seems to work for 028 number, not ported numbers.

The other option is a setup similar to mine:

Mobile account with 2degrees (021-1234567); Voicemail disabled, all calls divert to 2talk number (09-1234567)
Physical SIM card hosted with TNZ Group Ltd (~$40/mth) who provides email-sms-email service
Easily redirect incoming mobile calls (for 021-1234567) by setting up 2talk diverts for 09-1234567 number
Easily redirect SMS using Gmail filters (as they just show up in email inbox)
Send sms through 021 number by emailing 02799999@sms.tnz.co.nz <Message>
Make calls as 021 number by using 2talk custom caller ID

rcoup

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1099030 31-Jul-2014 09:35

Thanks @kenkeniff. Not sure how I missed that thread in my earlier search - must try harder :)

I'm not bothered about sending SMS or making calls "as" the number - it's all about inbound so we can give a single number to clients.

Having to use a separate app for such calls is a bit naff but I guess it could work. My normal worry is if the app isn't running (and of course it doesn't auto-start on boot) then you never know you've missed calls/messages.

kenkeniff

628 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 88

#1099039 31-Jul-2014 09:42

rcoup: Thanks @kenkeniff. Not sure how I missed that thread in my earlier search - must try harder :)

I'm not bothered about sending SMS or making calls "as" the number - it's all about inbound so we can give a single number to clients.

Having to use a separate app for such calls is a bit naff but I guess it could work. My normal worry is if the app isn't running (and of course it doesn't auto-start on boot) then you never know you've missed calls/messages.

Then option 2 is what you want;

Hosted SIM

SMS forward to email
Calls forward to 2talk which forwards to hunt group or whatever

Note you can host you own SIM using an app like this if you're happy to manage connectivity / device lockups etc yourself - which isn't too hard as most Android devices essentially have a built in UPS.

kenkeniff

628 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 88

#1099045 31-Jul-2014 09:50

If 2talk were smart they would allow SMS to 028 numbers to be received outside of that app (i.e. via email) and they would essentially be providing this entire service.

I have already suggested this to them previously, I'm sure more feedback would help the likelihood of them implementing it: http://www.2talk.co.nz/contact.html

nate

6473 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 458

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1099154 31-Jul-2014 11:18

kenkeniff: Note you can host you own SIM using an app like this if you're happy to manage connectivity / device lockups etc yourself - which isn't too hard as most Android devices essentially have a built in UPS.

I would setup the phone to forward to a 2Talk DDI, and use the app above or this one.

I've found SMS Gateway Ultimate to be rock solid, and have had it running continuously on a mobile phone for six months now.

spacedog

494 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 60

#1875119 30-Sep-2017 15:11

I know this thread is really old, but it seemed better to post here rather than start a new thread.

Just wondering if there has been any changes on this front in the last 3 years? I'm still looking for a virtual number in NZ that can receive SMS and forward incoming calls.

I can get this to work nicely in other countries using twilio.com, but they currently do not have any numbers in New Zealand that are SMS capable.

spacedog

494 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 60

#1919049 13-Dec-2017 14:14

bumping this on the off-chance someone sees it and can think of any other solution? So frustrating that this can be done reasonably and easily in Australia and even smaller EU countries, but nothing seems available here in NZ?