How to have a Canadian phone number which can forward calls to a number abroad?
While traveling long-term we would like a convenient way of getting calls from Canada by having a portable local number which we can take with us. We would give this number to banks, credit card companies, insurance, etc, so it has to be an ordinary phone number to them.
A cellular phone does this where roaming is available but is extremely expensive to us. So instead, we are looking for some kind of portable voice-over-IP service which we would connect whenever there is an internet connection, preferable via WiFi, but wired solutions are OK. It would be great if it also came with some kind of cloud voice-mail service, so that people can leave messages while the device is not connected or we cannot answer.
Basically, we are looking for the equivalent of a land-land phone service that we can travel with! This can be a combination of a service and device which would pay for regularly.
Does this exist? If so, where are the options and differences between them?
Best Answer
Sure, any Canadian VoIP provider will do. Getting a brand new Canadian phone number from your selected provider will be the easiest, and you can be all set up in minutes (if you use a software phone). Most providers will also support porting your existing Canadian phone number from a non-VoIP provider (takes a little longer to set up due to paperwork/authorization to port; may incur extra fees).
I don't want to recommend specific providers, but you can easily find lists by searching.
You can also use a traditional phone via a hardware adaptor or an actual IP phone (connects through ethernet) if you find it cumbersome to use your PC for phoning.
The VoIP providers don't require that you use the service from within Canada. In some cases it might be easier if you use a Canadian physical address (which can get registered as the 911 location for the phone number) and/or a Canadian credit card.
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Can I forward my calls to an international number?
International call forwarding allows users to divert inbound calls from anywhere in the world to any telephone or device they choose. Even though the call is routed across international lines, the caller is not charged international rates.Can I get a Canadian phone number outside Canada?
When you're working from abroad, you can't get a Canadian number through your typical phone carrier \u2014 but that doesn't mean accessing local numbers has to be any harder. The best way to get a Canadian phone number is through a VoIP phone service, which can give you virtual phone numbers from any country it supports.How do I keep my Canadian phone number?
If you'll be getting a local SIM card with a new, local number in the country you're moving to, you can use your old number on top of a new SIM card. Porting over your phone number to a VoIP telecommunications provider will do the trick.Is Bell Call Forwarding free?
You can add Call Forwarding to your Bell Mobility rate plan for a monthly fee or use it on a pay-per-use basis for $0.25 a minute.Keep Your Phone Number When You Move Abroad!
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Answer 2
There is one more option which is not covered by the other two valid answers but is the one I chose to go with in the end, so it may help others too.
There is a device called MagicJack which interfaces with a wired network via Ethernet or USB and has a telephone port. It acts as an end-point for VoIP calls. The nice thing about it is that it provides an end-to-end service. You pay a fee (currently $39 USD + shipping) and get the device plus one year service which includes unlimited calls to Canada and the US for a whole year. There is a $10 anual fee to get a Canadian or US number. Following that, it cost $36 USD per year or $120 for 5 yrs.
This is cheaper than regular Canadian VoIP provides but more expensive than Anveo, unless you truly use the line a lot. With MagicJack, the cost is fixed, so no need to worry about budgeting. After looking into this for a while, I discovered a number of family and friends which were all very happy with it.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Pixabay, Victoria Borodinova, Victoria Borodinova, Pixabay