Australian number whilst overseas

[Isochronous]

I spend most of my time overseas, so I have been thinking about cancelling my Telstra mobile subscription in Australia. I really don't need it, BUT - many of my banks/credit cards won't allow you to list a foreign mobile number on your account, which is necessary for SMS security etc.

Are there any solutions to this - e.g. is there a service that gives me an Australian mobile number that in practice diverts to my overseas phone or to my email (like Google Voice in the US)?

 

[opusman]

Does it need to be a mobile number, or would any Aussie number do?

Skype lets you add physical phone numbers to your account, and has a voicemail system to answer when you're not online. You can pick numbers from lots of countries including Australia. Not sure if the Skype number can be forwarded to another number though, but you can run Skype on your phone as long as you have data and then people can call you direct using your Skype number.

There are also various SIP-based VOIP services from lots of different providers that will give you a local phone number, and at least some of them definitely can be diverted using the *21 code (I know because I've used it myself). You can also get generic VOIP (SIP) client software for smartphones, so again if you had data you'd also be able to login to your Australian number and receive calls directly.

If you want to be able to receive SMS's it's trickier, because AFAIK there's no way of diverting or forwarding those - SMS functionality is hard-wired into the mobile phone system at a very low level.

 

[Tawita]

I have a cheap Android phone plugged in at my parents' house in Oz, connected to their wi-fi network. It has an Aldi mobile SIM with 365 days' validity. I use an app called PhoneLeash, which sends any SMS received to my email address. It is also possible to send SMS messages remotely via PhoneLeash. It has worked well so far.

 

[moa999]

And if all you need is any Australian number (for voice not SMS).
easily done via VOIP.

 

[codash1099]

Truphone provides a SIM that can have an Australian number, as well as US and UK numbers.

 

[jamang1999]

Skype's really easy and works really well - getting the number costs a bit, but then calls, SMS's, and everything can be done from that. With Office 365 a certain amount of calls to certain numbers are also included for free.

 

[dajop]

Skype number works well for voice calls and sms from skype/mobiles. However, unless it has changed since 2014, banks will not allow a non-mobile number to provided for SMS's to be sent to (i.e. the Skype number I had was 03 xx_x xx_x number where as bank needed a 04xx xx_ xx_ number).

We maintain a cheap basic low cost mobile (cheapest we could find) simply to access bank SMS services using an AU mobile. Some banks are OK, I know Citibank sends notifications to my SG mobile, but Ubank (NAB) won't. Not sure if that is functional limitation, or because non-residents aren't allowed to open the type of account we have.

 

[theblank]

Are there any solutions to this - e.g. is there a service that gives me an Australian mobile number that in practice diverts to my overseas phone or to my email (like Google Voice in the US)?

Every mobile provider can do this, its just a matter of price, and it depends on how much you want to pay.



A problem you will run into, is that cheap prepaids dont let you do international roaming.

I have used Lebara for this in the past. Leave the phone in australia, connected to a charger. Use the Android app that can forward SMS to email, and divert calls to a voip number that has Voicemail to email.
Just make sure you padlock the phone to the charger, otherwise the friggen kids borrow the charger and dont reconnect. Seriously, thats exactly what happened, so whilst it was a good plan, not having control over the phone was a huge flaw.

If i was you, I would get a Telstra prepaid, on a long life plan. $30 every 6 months Telstra enables international roaming by default on prepaids, so its a no brainer, IMO.

 

[marki]

Every mobile provider can do this, its just a matter of price, and it depends on how much you want to pay.



A problem you will run into, is that cheap prepaids dont let you do international roaming.

I have used Lebara for this in the past. Leave the phone in australia, connected to a charger. Use the Android app that can forward SMS to email, and divert calls to a voip number that has Voicemail to email.
Just make sure you padlock the phone to the charger, otherwise the friggen kids borrow the charger and dont reconnect. Seriously, thats exactly what happened, so whilst it was a good plan, not having control over the phone was a huge flaw.

If i was you, I would get a Telstra prepaid, on a long life plan. $30 every 6 months Telstra enables international roaming by default on prepaids, so its a no brainer, IMO.

Telstra Premium Plan solves all your problems 195 fora month comes with 1.5 Gigs and phone as much as u like from key countries ( unlimited)

When overseas calls divert to u automatically and iMessage and sms.

 

[dk4]

Search for SMS Gateway Providers in Australia. I use smsbroadcast.com.au, but only for outgoing messaging... However, I know they offer VMN (Virtual Mobile Numbers, in the +614 range) which will receive an SMS and forward it to your nominated email address. They charge around $179 per year though (I think that's with unlimited email forwards of incoming SMS texts), so not cheap.

 

[theblank]

Telstra Premium Plan solves all your problems 195 fora month..

$195 a month is a lot of money just to be able to receive a handful of SMS a month.

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

This was what I posted a while back. It worked for me in the states.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ith-overseas-sim-cards-75648.html#post1438640

 

[PatMcrotch]

I use a dual sim phone. One sim for the country I am travelling in and the other sim a prepaid telstra.
Never had a problem receiving sms and calls from AU when overseas.

 

[marki]

$195 a month is a lot of money just to be able to receive a handful of SMS a month.

Yes and no!

If you do a lot of work o/s and when in Oz do O/S phone calls its actually really good values. Not to mention the 1.5 gig to use whilst o/s and 25g when in Oz.

 

[theblank]

Yes and no!

Highly depending on circumstances, its obviously not a ideal solution for someone who just wanted to receive the odd SMS.

 

[marki]

Err therefore the proviso

 

[marki]

The sms option is any Australian Mobile preferably Telstra and activated with low cost plan. This willow enough for sms