Use Landline Number on Mobile for Free

Paul_Varjak

A number of providers will provide a SIM card with a geographical code (01/02) but one problem is that you have to pay to receive calls. But, using VOIP and a mobile data plan, it is possible to have an 01/02 number associated with your Android phone.

But can this really be done for free? The answer is YES (assuming you already have an Android phone) but the solution is not straightforward and requires that you obtain services from several suppliers...

1. Android phone with WiFi. When using the mobile at home you route calls over WiFi. You get improved call quality that will not eat into your free mobile data plan data plan.

2. A SIM card with a mobile data plan - TalkMobile currently has a number of deals at zero cost (after cashback) that also include free mobile minutes and free texts. The mobile data plan is used to receive/make calls on the mobile when out of WiFi range.

3. An 01/02 number - Sipgate provide these at zero cost. A few providers offer 01/02 numbers for a one-off cost as little as £3 that give the flexibility of using a VOIP provider of your choice.

4. VOIP provider - if you use Sipgate to provide your phone number you will have to use Sipgate as your VOIP provider.

5. VOIP client for you mobile phone configured to use your chosen VOIP provider. Good ones are CSipSimple and SipDroid.

6. For outgoing calls, you may just decide to use any free mobile minutes from your SIM provider. But, if you want to make outgoing calls with your 01/02 CLI displayed to the called party you will need to make calls over VOIP. These will be chargeable. Currently, the cheapest VOIP provider for making calls is DialNow at just 0.1p/min for calls to UK landlines and UK mobiles. But, to get these rates you will need an additional VOIP client (provided by DialNow)

Please note that this solution is for money-saving geeks only!!

HappyMJ

Can you explain point 2 a little more? I've seen 30 day contracts where the cashback exceeds the cost of the contract but the hassle factor of joining and leaving every month is too much. What is the best mobile sim only plan around? I would have thought OVIVO Mobile which costs £5 for the SIM then the ongoing cost is zero.

Paul_Varjak

The Talkmobile deal is only zero cost of you claim the cashback, so it does require some discipline in claiming cashback at the right time.

Actually, it is NOT s SIM-only deal - you also get a mobile phone into the bargain as well, but not a smartphone. You get 250 minutes/month and 5000 texts/month. It is available on e2save.

The Ovivo offering looks very good if you can live with the adverts - which may eat into your data allowance?

One contradction I have noted in the Ovivo deal is that the T&Cs state any credit will expire after 360 days if you don't use the phone but the FAQs say that the credit will never expire.

Paul_Varjak

williamsmith87820 wrote: »

This is best offer.I really want to use this.Can anybody tell me which operator has give this services.

If you choose to use Talkmobile, the underlying network operator will be Vodafone.

Browntoa

I use the sipgate app on my iphone as it goes , like you say I can get calls anywhere there is wifi . If the app is not on it emails the voicemail to me and I call them back

Great when abroad as people can ring me for free if I can get wifi using their off peak / weekend free local landline calls

NFH

I likewise have a US phone number on my iPhone via VOIP. I have a Google Voice US phone number, which can be pointed at any US phone number, including at the Pinger app when I'm outside the US. Pinger supports push notifications meaning I don't even have to leave the app open to receive calls.

Paul_Varjak

And Sipgate voicemail is free too! In fact, if you sign up to Sipgate you can get a free 01/02 number and receive calls for free without ever providing Sipgate with any credit card or bank account details.

Browntoa

yep, 3 years and never given sipgate a penny

jhp

When i looked earlier http://www.sipgate.co.uk/user/ were not providing new 01/02 numbers at the present time.

Paul_Varjak

jhp wrote: »

When i looked earlier http://www.sipgate.co.uk/user/ were not providing new 01/02 numbers at the present time.

Appears to be working for me. Managed to select a phone number for my local area code. Maybe there was temporary website problem for you or you want an area code that is not available currently?

Paul_Varjak

HappyMJ...

Thanks for the info on OVIVO. I have ordered one of these SIMs and will see if it is suitable for use with a Land-line number on a mobile. If it is, I will probably use it instead of a Talkmobile SIM on my Android phone and just use the Talkmobile SIM card in my Samsung Chromebook.

I think OVIVO should work OK as both Talkmobile and OVIVO are on the Vodafone network and Vodafone do not block VOIP calls over a data connection.