It’s not a good idea to use your cell phone number for everything you do. You don’t want to miss an important business call if you’re on the phone to your favorite aunt, after all. But what are your options for having several numbers without having to carry a second phone for work or having a dual-SIM phone?
Thanks to virtual SIM Android apps, you don’t have to have multiple phones for multiple purposes. You can have multiple virtual cell phone numbers on your Android smartphone. The following is is five of the best virtual cell phone number apps you can install on your Android phone.
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1. Cloud SIM
Need not one, not two, but four additional cell phone numbers? You’ll get that with the Cloud SIM app, with features aimed at users who need a business-capable service with cheap international calls and texts. This UK-based service aims to separate your cell usage, with different number “profiles” that ring-fence your calls, texts, and voicemails into different areas, depending on what you’re using it for.
Business users will be able to take advantage of call recording and forwarding features, while travelers will love the low cost of calling and texting abroad. You also get entirely free texts and calls to other Cloud SIM users. It’s a VOIP service, so you’ll need an internet connection to use this app.
You’ll be able to register numbers based in the UK, Poland, Canada, and the U.S.
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2. GoDaddy Smartline
If you’re all about business, GoDaddy Smartline could be the virtual SIM app you need for your Android smartphone. It’s been designed as an easy way to obtain a U.S. business cell number without needing to pay for a second phone.
GoDaddy Smartline’s killer feature is an auto-transcribing voicemail service – rather than listening to the calls, you’ll get them transcribed in a message so you can filter out the spam calls. You can set business hours to automatically reject calls when you’re on personal time. You can also send texts from your business number with unlimited texts and minutes per month.
GoDaddy Smartline also comes with a one-month free trial period. It isn’t a VOIP service. Calls are routed across your cell network, so rather than using your Wi-Fi or cell data, it’ll use the minutes on your cell calling plan instead.
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3. Burner
Ever heard of a burner phone? The Burner app offers you something similar, without needing that disposable phone. Calls are forwarded to your personal number while keeping that number private. You get a second cell number through the app for when you may need it.
The app developers recommend Burner for everything from online dating to business use. You get a seven-day free trial. After that, it’s either $4.99 a month for one number or $14.99/month for three. If you want, you can buy short-term plans for less.
Burner comes with available U.S. or Canadian numbers. You can also block numbers, set personal voicemail greetings, and set automatic text replies.
4. Google Voice
It’s all good paying for a second number, but it’s harder if you don’t have the funds. Thankfully, Google Voice does away with that problem with free calls and texts for Google account users, although it’s only available for U.S. residents at present.
All you need to do is install the Google Voice app and sign in. Like GoDaddy, Google Voice also comes with a voicemail transcription service, transcribing your recorded messages as you receive them. It’s a call forwarding service, so calls and texts are forwarded to a chosen number.
You’re also not locked into one device with Google Voice. You’re able to share the same number across multiple devices, including an iPhone or your web browser.
5. Hushed
Like Burner, Hushed is another disposable SIM number service. You can try the service for three days with a private number that lets you send calls and texts. If you’re interested in the service, packages range from seven days to thirty days or an unlimited plan for $4.99 a month. There’s even a 40% student discount available for students with a Student Beans account.
Hushed comes with available Canadian, UK and U.S. numbers. The service comes with call forwarding and a custom voicemail, as well as a varied range of texts and minutes, depending on the package you buy.
Keep Business and Pleasure Separate with Virtual Cell Phone Numbers
Nobody wants business calls on their personal cell number, but nobody wants to carry a second phone either. With one of these virtual cell phone number apps, you can quickly generate new cell numbers that you can use for everything from that important job search to speaking with your friends abroad.
They also make the perfect companion app for business owners who need a second line but don’t want to pay business prices for the privilege.
Do you have your own experiences or recommendations of virtual SIM apps to share? Leave your thoughts and suggestions in the comments below.
Image Credit: Google via Google Play Store
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