Options for maintaining two phone numbers

[Caduceus]

I need a second phone number I can give out to relative strangers for a project I'm working on. I don't want to give them my personal phone number. What are my options?

So far, I've thought of:

1. A dual-sim phone: I only want to use the Iphone though, so this seems not to be an option.
2. Get a cheap used Iphone and maintain two separate phones with two separate numbers.

Any other possibilities? Preferably it would allow me to message them using Whatsapp that is tied to the second phone number too. This seems to eliminate some of the virtual options.

[VictorStarr]

I need a second phone number I can give out to relative strangers for a project I'm working on. I don't want to give them my personal phone number. What are my options?

So far, I've thought of:

1. A dual-sim phone: I only want to use the Iphone though, so this seems not to be an option.
2. Get a cheap used Iphone and maintain two separate phones with two separate numbers.

Any other possibilities? Preferably it would allow me to message them using Whatsapp that is tied to the second phone number too. This seems to eliminate some of the virtual options.

Google Voice number maybe a good match.

[TheGreyingDuke]

Google voice would seem to meet your requirements.

I am not an iphone user but I think recent models support two lines, an eSim and a hardware version

[the_wiki]

Check out textnow or textfree . Just download an app and get a virtual phone number for calls and texts. I have used it to make calls from a tablet with only WiFi. Would work as second line on a phone, too. They’ve been around for a long time.

[Cruise]

iPhones have dual sim models. I used one for years. One line business, one line personal.

[nalor511]

I need a second phone number I can give out to relative strangers for a project I'm working on. I don't want to give them my personal phone number. What are my options?

So far, I've thought of:

1. A dual-sim phone: I only want to use the Iphone though, so this seems not to be an option.
2. Get a cheap used Iphone and maintain two separate phones with two separate numbers.

Any other possibilities? Preferably it would allow me to message them using Whatsapp that is tied to the second phone number too. This seems to eliminate some of the virtual options.

Google Voice number maybe a good match.

This. I have three

[ResearchMed]

Google Voice number maybe a good match.

iPhones have dual sim models. I used one for years. One line business, one line personal.

Do these allow for *either* phone number to "ring", or does one need to switch back and forth, and perhaps only get the messages/etc., from a non-main number?

I am NOT familiar with either of the above.
Please consider me a dinosaur!
Thanks.

RM

[gopheroms]

iPhones have dual sim models. I used one for years. One line business, one line personal.

Agreed. I currently have two lines on my iPhone—one personal and one for business. It's especially convenient when traveling abroad. You can get a local SIM and activate it via eSIM for an affordable local phone plan while traveling internationally.

[MathWizard]

I need a second phone number I can give out to relative strangers for a project I'm working on. I don't want to give them my personal phone number. What are my options?

So far, I've thought of:

1. A dual-sim phone: I only want to use the Iphone though, so this seems not to be an option.
2. Get a cheap used Iphone and maintain two separate phones with two separate numbers.

Any other possibilities? Preferably it would allow me to message them using Whatsapp that is tied to the second phone number too. This seems to eliminate some of the virtual options.

Try the Google voice app on your iPhone.

You can make calls from the app, and have the app forward (link) the call to your actual number. This way, the relative strangers don't see your personal number, but you receive calls on your regular phone.
This beats 2 phones.

My wife had some problems with the dual SIM (hardware+eSIM) on her iPhone.
I tried calling the eSIM number and couldn't get through
since this was the secondary number, and the personal number was her primary. If you call, which number would be shown? It seemed like I had to change the primary and secondary setting to change which number is shown. Not very convenient.
Using the Google voice app separates this. Just use the app exclusively for the strangers .


Try this out with someone you trust, to make sure the person on the other end does not see your personal number.

[MathWizard]

Google Voice number maybe a good match.

iPhones have dual sim models. I used one for years. One line business, one line personal.

Do these allow for *either* phone number to "ring", or does one need to switch back and forth, and perhaps only get the messages/etc., from a non-main number?

I am NOT familiar with either of the above.
Please consider me a dinosaur!
Thanks.

RM

For me, Google Voice rang for either line.

The dual SIM approach seemed to require manual switching.
Maybe I just didn't get the settings right. I am pretty tech savvy, being a technology consultant, but there was no obvious way to set
it up.

[chinchin]

1. A dual-sim phone: I only want to use the Iphone though, so this seems not to be an option.

iPhones have dual sim.

[BuddyJet]

I need a second phone number I can give out to relative strangers for a project I'm working on. I don't want to give them my personal phone number. What are my options?

So far, I've thought of:

1. A dual-sim phone: I only want to use the Iphone though, so this seems not to be an option.
2. Get a cheap used Iphone and maintain two separate phones with two separate numbers.

Any other possibilities? Preferably it would allow me to message them using Whatsapp that is tied to the second phone number too. This seems to eliminate some of the virtual options.

Here is a link to the Apple instruction for using dual e-sim on your iPhone.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/109317

[catlady]

I use google voice for this. You can make and receive calls and texts in the google voice app on your phone. It’s free, easy to setup, and functions just like another line.

[SuzBanyan]

I’ve used a dual Sim iPhone 13 for 2 years. It tells me who is calling and I can also get texts to either number. I just moved one number to separate hardware when I upgraded to the 16. Came in handy yesterday when Verizon bricked my new phone for a few hours.

[Cruise]

Google Voice number maybe a good match.

iPhones have dual sim models. I used one for years. One line business, one line personal.

Do these allow for *either* phone number to "ring", or does one need to switch back and forth, and perhaps only get the messages/etc., from a non-main number?

I am NOT familiar with either of the above.
Please consider me a dinosaur!
Thanks.

RM

Either / each number rings without needing to activate a switch One just needs to look at the phone to determine which number is ringing.
default.


Of course, I dropped my second sim years ago after I closed my consult Practice
Choosing the outgoing line is quite simple if one wants to chtange from the default.


Of course, I dropped my second sim years ago after I closed my consulting Practice. Things may have changed.

[folkher0]

I need a second phone number I can give out to relative strangers for a project I'm working on. I don't want to give them my personal phone number. What are my options?

So far, I've thought of:

1. A dual-sim phone: I only want to use the Iphone though, so this seems not to be an option.
2. Get a cheap used Iphone and maintain two separate phones with two separate numbers.

Any other possibilities? Preferably it would allow me to message them using Whatsapp that is tied to the second phone number too. This seems to eliminate some of the virtual options.

iphones support e-sims. unlike the little card that you stick in a slot in the back of the phone, an e sim can be loaded completely electronically using a wifi connection. You can have multiple (more than 2) esims on your phone. I'm not sure the max, I have 3 esims on it right now. My iphone 13 allows 2 sims to be active at one time, so I have 2 phone numbers active on my device simultaneously. One is verizon, one is tmobile. One is "primary" one is "secondary". You can choose which one is the primary data carrier. In the upper right of my screen i have 2 sets of "bars" showing my signal on both networks. I have my private number for friends and family then I have a more "public" number for work.

This is also very useful for international traveling. I can download an affordable esim appropriate for wherever I'm going.

[02nz]

Google Voice number maybe a good match.

iPhones have dual sim models. I used one for years. One line business, one line personal.

Do these allow for *either* phone number to "ring", or does one need to switch back and forth, and perhaps only get the messages/etc., from a non-main number?

I am NOT familiar with either of the above.
Please consider me a dinosaur!
Thanks.

RM

For me, Google Voice rang for either line.

The dual SIM approach seemed to require manual switching.
Maybe I just didn't get the settings right. I am pretty tech savvy, being a technology consultant, but there was no obvious way to set
it up.

Dual SIM operation on the iPhone does NOT require manual switching. It's very easy to set up, and both lines will ring.

Newer iPhone models sold in the U.S. no longer have a physical slot, they only take eSIMs. But it works the same - you can have two eSIMs active at the same time.

[02nz]

1. A dual-sim phone: I only want to use the Iphone though, so this seems not to be an option.

Dual SIM operation on the iPhone works very easily and seamlessly. These days if you purchase an iPhone in the U.S., it will only accept eSIMs, two of which can be active simultaneously.

[lthenderson]

Do these allow for *either* phone number to "ring", or does one need to switch back and forth, and perhaps only get the messages/etc., from a non-main number?

I am NOT familiar with either of the above.
Please consider me a dinosaur!
Thanks.

RM

I have Google Voice as a second number. It is actually my old landline number that I transferred over to Google Voice. It can be set up to ring as others have stated above. However, my preference is that it doesn't ring at all and instead mine is set up so that it plays an "answering machine" personalized message and after someone leaves a message, it transcribes that message and sends it to me in an email. Google Voice has an app on your iPhone or Android where you can listen to the original message or even respond via text message. Google Voice also allows you to respond to the message on your iPhone/Android while hiding your cellphone number which is nice when using it for business calls.