[samsamsam]

(04-12-2016 12:00 PM)CleanSlate Wrote:  

I want to keep my old US phone number when I expatriate this summer, and still be able to receive text messages to that number. Not only for keeping in touch, but also for two-factor authentication for securely logging into my financial accounts or signing up for new online accounts. You know, they send you a code via text, and you enter that code to log in.

How do I go about this?

Does a t-mobile international plan help with keeping my old number and being able to receive text messages to that number abroad? Does Google Voice or Skype do this also?

This might help. For you, my research is free
thread-47239...pid1057075

(07-03-2015 06:37 AM)262 Wrote:  

As for transferring my US # to a VoIP service (no sense paying for US cell service if you aren't in their coverage), I'm going with RingTo. Their number porting service is fast and free (I submitted my request a few hours ago and just got an e-mail saying the transfer will happen at a certain time on July 6). That contrasts to Google Voice ($20 to port in) and Talkatone (seems you must e-mail to port your number). Reason for keeping my US #? To keep it active, and to also be able to send/receive calls/texts for free with family/friends in the US (though apps like Facebook Messenger pretty much do this anyway).

On a personal note, not sure if you used Google Voice on your trips, but it worked pretty well. I was able to do all sorts of work and calls and it was clear. I had skype and google voice with about 10 bucks each loaded, in case I was not on my laptop and needed to call from my cell over wifi.