Get SMS forwarded international (Italy to elsewhere)
Sep 12, 2016, 12:10 am
#1
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Get SMS forwarded international (Italy to elsewhere)
I have an Italian sim card and number, (vodafone) but I only put it in the phone when I'm in Italy. If people send me SMS text messages when I'm not there, they sit in the vodafone system for about 30 days and then disappear, so I never receive them.
This becomes a problem because I use some secure websites that have three factor login- username, password, then they send me an SMS with a code that I have to enter within a few minutes. They will only send it to an Italian number, so I need a way to get that forwarded to e-mail, a web interface, or a U.S. number so I can get it right away. Vodafone won't do it, my phone would have to be left in Italy and plugged in for that to happen. I can't find any virtual phone number systems that will give me an Italian number and will receive/forward SMS (google voice will do that with US numbers, but they won't issue Italian numbers).
Any ideas? (I can plug the Italian sim into a phone in the US and receive the SMS, but then I get hit with a big international roaming charge each time).
This becomes a problem because I use some secure websites that have three factor login- username, password, then they send me an SMS with a code that I have to enter within a few minutes. They will only send it to an Italian number, so I need a way to get that forwarded to e-mail, a web interface, or a U.S. number so I can get it right away. Vodafone won't do it, my phone would have to be left in Italy and plugged in for that to happen. I can't find any virtual phone number systems that will give me an Italian number and will receive/forward SMS (google voice will do that with US numbers, but they won't issue Italian numbers).
Any ideas? (I can plug the Italian sim into a phone in the US and receive the SMS, but then I get hit with a big international roaming charge each time).
Sep 12, 2016, 2:01 am
#2
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I have the identical issue with a US SIM card which remains unused much of the year. The calls can be forwarded, but I can think of no way I can get texts. Any ideas would be much appreciated.
Sep 12, 2016, 6:22 am
#3
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When you are in usa, set Google voice* to send all calls/texts to your prepaid number. When you leave, change the forwarding number. You get texts in your email/web-client/hangouts, so no issues with that
*Check the costs first. Gvoice isn't a true cellular provider, so they don't have to follow all the cellular rules(some area codes are blocked)
https://plus.google.com/+SusanWu/posts/h442vMzcTHD
(alternatively, for USA numbers)
if your prepaid provider allows WiFi calling and doesn't charge extra (Tmobile typically doesn't block/charge extra even for prepaid, verizon might allow it for prepaid starting october), and you have a compatible wiif-calling phone
when you go overseas, place phone in airplane mode and connect on wifi for wifi calling. you should get calls/texts on wifi (some bugs occasionally)
Last edited by paperwastage; Sep 12, 2016 at 6:52 am
Sep 12, 2016, 6:48 am
#4
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(i know that vodafone UK has it... not sure about costs though)
https://www.vodafone.co.uk/terms-and...ling/index.htm
Sep 12, 2016, 7:11 am
#5
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vodafone italy doesn't have wifi calling/phones?
(i know that vodafone UK has it... not sure about costs though)
https://www.vodafone.co.uk/terms-and...ling/index.htm
(i know that vodafone UK has it... not sure about costs though)
https://www.vodafone.co.uk/terms-and...ling/index.htm
Sep 12, 2016, 7:52 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,383
I'll look into it. The link you give states "This is only available to our Pay monthly customers and business customers on Red Bundles, Red Value Bundles and Red+, and business customers on Business Premier." I'm currently on a prepaid sim rather than a monthly billing, but I could change it over if that method will work for me. Then I could just pop it in an old wifi enabled phone and leave it that way when I need it in the states.
not sure vodafone.it follows the same policy as a subsidiary or separate company or ?
Sep 12, 2016, 7:59 am
#7
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Google voice is your answer for usa numbers... give out your gvoice usa phone number to other people
When you are in usa, set Google voice* to send all calls/texts to your prepaid number. When you leave, change the forwarding number. You get texts in your email/web-client/hangouts, so no issues with that
*Check the costs first. Gvoice isn't a true cellular provider, so they don't have to follow all the cellular rules(some area codes are blocked)
https://plus.google.com/+SusanWu/posts/h442vMzcTHD
Thanks. It looks promising but the site suggests I have to either get a new number (which I really don't want to do), or give up my cellphone contract which I'd rather not do. But I shall investigate further.
(alternatively, for USA numbers)
if your prepaid provider allows WiFi calling and doesn't charge extra (Tmobile typically doesn't block/charge extra even for prepaid, verizon might allow it for prepaid starting october), and you have a compatible wiif-calling phone
when you go overseas, place phone in airplane mode and connect on wifi for wifi calling. you should get calls/texts on wifi (some bugs occasionally)
When you are in usa, set Google voice* to send all calls/texts to your prepaid number. When you leave, change the forwarding number. You get texts in your email/web-client/hangouts, so no issues with that
*Check the costs first. Gvoice isn't a true cellular provider, so they don't have to follow all the cellular rules(some area codes are blocked)
https://plus.google.com/+SusanWu/posts/h442vMzcTHD
Thanks. It looks promising but the site suggests I have to either get a new number (which I really don't want to do), or give up my cellphone contract which I'd rather not do. But I shall investigate further.
(alternatively, for USA numbers)
if your prepaid provider allows WiFi calling and doesn't charge extra (Tmobile typically doesn't block/charge extra even for prepaid, verizon might allow it for prepaid starting october), and you have a compatible wiif-calling phone
when you go overseas, place phone in airplane mode and connect on wifi for wifi calling. you should get calls/texts on wifi (some bugs occasionally)
Sep 12, 2016, 8:08 am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2012
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the wifi calling option would be the easiest if provider allows it (might need new phone, but that can be done cheaply/simple/one-time cost)
Sep 12, 2016, 1:31 pm
#9
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Get a new number from google voice, that's cheap, and issue that to those who have to contact you this way. You can also do some linkage with your other US number. I set my AT&T number to auto forward to the google voice number any time I don't answer after a set number of rings, so whenever anyone calls or texts while I'm out of the country I get a message via e-mail. That's what I want to do in reverse, with the Italian number sending me messages in the states...
Sep 12, 2016, 2:57 pm
#11
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Sep 12, 2016, 7:53 pm
#13
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I'll check that out. I just assumed as soon as I power up and start having phone traffic I was getting hit with a daily fee. If you're right then my problem is solved.
Sep 13, 2016, 6:07 pm
#14
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Sep 13, 2016, 6:11 pm
#15
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I was assuming I'd get hit with a €2 euro or so roaming charge for every day that the phone is active, which means I'd be paying that to receive one text, but it appears that is not the case- I'm hearing that there are no roaming charges for receiving texts on an Italian sim when I'm in the U.S.