Expats keeping a phone number in their citizenship country (aka MagicJack not working).

[Ronnie60]

Hey all.  Got few questions on this.  I'm not in Thailand but outside the US and been using a nonUS sim card for many years as I'm abroad basically almost all year.  I do visit the US few times a year though.  And even when I'm back in the US, I still use my nonUS sim card here since they allow roaming free of charge.

 

 

The thing is throughout all these years, I never had a US SMS number.  The reason because I never needed one since I have a US google voice number.  So back in the US when I'm there for a short time every year, I would use my nonUS sim card data and use google voice to call/text people here in the US.  Or if i'm on wifi, my data isn't needed.  When im abroad, I use my data or wifi and use google voice to call/text people in the US.   The thing is I use my US google voice number for many financial institution sites for sms verification and things like that without any issue.  But lately there is one site where apparently they would not let me open an account with them, because they would not allow me to receive an sms message to my google voice number because they recognize it as VOIP.  No other financial site etc ever had any issue with my google voice number until now.

 

 

Again I haven't had a US sms number in years because I been abroad for many years already and using my nonUS sim card along with google voice with no issue.  But obviously I wouldn't mind having a US SMS number to keep though but the issue is because I"m abroad, I wouldn't be able to use it due to roaming fees and because there was no need at all.  But for this situation, is this ultramobile plan the perfect plan for this?  Three dollars a month is certainly good.  I also have an unlocked iphone.  At the moment Im in the US right now.  So you would advice getting this ultramobile paygo sim card... then activate it here... then once I do that, then i'm good when using it abroad again?  I remember someone mentioned you first need to not only activate it here... but make sure you try it on data or make a phone call or text here just to make sure it works?  I thought I read even if you activate it here... but never once make a phone call/text or use data on it to try... then it might not work abroad?  Just want to make sure of this.  Anyone can give detail on this?  Also anyone here use this while in another country that is not in Asian countries?

[Ronnie60]

Want to add something else.  I currently have an iphone SE that im using with the nonUS sim card in it at the moment.  I will be planning to buy a new iphone though. It will be most likely a iphone 13 of some sorts.  I read those have two sim card slots but they are esim slots?  So would this be an issue?  

 

 

The thing is this iphone SE is an old phone and battery is extremely bad so that is why i'm getting a new phone.  So after I get the ultramobile paygo sim card, assuming I did not buy a new iphone yet, would you say its fine to take my nonUS sim card out of my old iphone SE... put this ultramobile paygo sim card in it and activate it?  Then when I later get a new iphone... I will be doing this while I'm still in the US as I am now... then I would put both that sim card and my nonUS sim card into the new iphone?  Is that correct?  I also believe i read that if you do that... you need to make sure the ultramobile paygo sim card has to be in the number one slot and not second slot or there will be issues?  My concern here is when i'm abroad, many times I need to use my iphone to tether as a hotspot on my laptop and I need to make sure i'm using my nonUS sim card as I need my data when tethering to be nonUS and not the US.  So would there ever be an issue where when you tether, the iphone makes a mistake and tether from the ultramobile paygo sim card?

 

 

I assume if this is possible... would you say best when im abroad, just put my nonUS sim card in the new iphone.  And put the ultramobile paygo sim card in my old iphone SE?  So there would not be some mistake?  Again I would only need this ultramobile paygo sim whenever I log into that site to get two factor authorization.  So basically I will be using my new iphone almost always since I only need that paygo sim whenever I log into that account.  However, someone who has an account on that site told me that they needed a sms number to activate their financial account... but once they did they, they changed their two factor authorization to either google authenticator or authy and said they never needed their us sms number again.  But of course there is a chance that might be needed like if you have account issues... so best to have that US sms number on you right?  Because for that financial account, I did thought about using a family member's sms phone number and then once I do that and get a code, then put that in... then I change my two factor authorization to google authenticator or authy and I"m fine.  But you would agree thats risky in case I have an issue with that site right later on?  Of course I could text my family member and ask them for the verification code again if there is some issue but you all agree in my situation, best to have my own US sms number?

[JimmyJ]

Ronnie60 - What is the non US SIM card you use that apparently can be used anywhere in the world with no roaming fees?

What is the monthly cost?

 

As far as your issue- 

 

Is getting the new account worth $36 USD per year plus the cost of the Ultra/Paygo SIM? 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

These days, there are some U.S. financial institutions whose SMSs for various account activities no longer work with Google Voice.   Most of mine still do work with GV, but even I have a few that don't and require some kind of real U.S. mobile number.

 

For the OP, I don't think there's any better deal out there for getting and keeping a real U.S. mobile number to have in Thailand than the $3 a month Paygo SIM. It does need to be first activated in the U.S., but after that, easy to use in Thailand for receiving SMS messages from the U.S. and other needs.

 

PS -- Another alternative for someone who's only got a few instances where their GV number isn't accepted is to see if that/those financial institutions have OTHER means of contact that they'll allow instead of you receiving a mobile SMS message, such as receiving the code by email or voice call or some other means.

 

 

[JimmyJ]

TextNow displays short codes IIRC (unless that's changed)  but now  - for new accounts at least - it's necessary to.pay about 5 USD for having a permanent phone number.

from what I've read .

(I get a reminder from them monthly to use it or lose it so I text myself and retain the number).

 

Cheaper than 36 USD/year for Ultra/Paygo.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

21 hours ago, JimmyJ said:

TextNow displays short codes IIRC (unless that's changed)  but now  - for new accounts at least - it's necessary to.pay about 5 USD for having a permanent phone number.

from what I've read .

(I get a reminder from them monthly to use it or lose it so I text myself and retain the number).

 

 

I gave up my long-time TextNow free number some months back for lack of use -- especially since I already had/have U.S. numbers from MagicJack, Google Voice, Ting and T-Mobile (the latter via their original $3 a month plan that survives, but is no longer available to new customers).

 

I never really used my free TextNow number to attempt receipt of banking SMS codes. But I thought in past months, I saw other members posting that their TextNow numbers had ceased to work for banking short codes, either entirely, or because they weren't willing to pay a required monthly fee.

 

 

 

[Ronnie60]

My nonsim card is a Mexico sim card.  So I could use it without roaming charges in the US or even Canada.  You cannot roam it in any other country.  I pay a little more than ten dollars a month.  I use it while there or here in the US with no roaming fees.

 

 

I just received the ultramobile paygo sim.

 

 

Now it says i need to text GOGO and my zip code to 6700?  Then go to Paygo.ultra.me/activate.  So the second part has to be done on my current iphone right?  Or can it be done on my laptop?  But i need to text that code though on my iphone right and make sure its my current zip code here in the US as the first step?  Want to make sure im doing this right.  Of course i know i need to take out my nonUS sim card out of my iphone now and put this ultramobile sim in.

 

 

 

[HappyGoLuckyLife]

4 hours ago, Ronnie60 said:

Now it says i need to text GOGO and my zip code to 6700?  Then go to Paygo.ultra.me/activate.  So the second part has to be done on my current iphone right?

It's do the text method or go to the website:

 

To activate your PayGo plan, insert your SIM and complete an option below. To keep you current number: Visit paygo.ultra.me/activate To get a new number: Text GOGO and your ZIP code to 6700 or visit paygo.ultra.me/activate

[HappyGoLuckyLife]

Question. Is it possible to just have the banks call/text your Thai number? I ask because many financial institutions have international numbers to conduct business. Is there a reason the 2FA SMS couldn't be sent to your AIS, True (insert name) number?

[Yellowtail]

4 hours ago, HappyGoLuckyLife said:

Question. Is it possible to just have the banks call/text your Thai number? I ask because many financial institutions have international numbers to conduct business. Is there a reason the 2FA SMS couldn't be sent to your AIS, True (insert name) number?

I used my Thai number with Fidelity for 15-20 years and never had an issue. I got a US Mint phone a couple years ago and have switched to using that. 

[Ronnie60]

19 hours ago, HappyGoLuckyLife said:

It's do the text method or go to the website:

 

To activate your PayGo plan, insert your SIM and complete an option below. To keep you current number: Visit paygo.ultra.me/activate To get a new number: Text GOGO and your ZIP code to 6700 or visit pay

go.ultra.me/activate

Well I need a new number for ultramobile as I do not have one.

 

So i take out my old nonUS sim card out, then put the ultramobile sim card in.

 

Then i need to text GOGO and my zip code to 6700?

 

Then after that I do that, go visit 

pay

go.ultra.me/activate?

 

 

Im confused here because you said either do that text or just go straight to that website.  So which is the preferred way?

 

 

Also when you say go to that website, do you want me to go to that website via wifi on my iphone... or do that on my laptop?

 

 

[HappyGoLuckyLife]

5 hours ago, Ronnie60 said:

Also when you say go to that website, do you want me to go to that website via wifi on my iphone... or do that on my laptop?

I imagine you could do either. I don't use UM yet, but looking into it myself.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

5 hours ago, HappyGoLuckyLife said:

I imagine you could do either. I don't use UM yet, but looking into it myself.

 

I think at some point in the process, you need to be able to either get or send an SMS to Paygo on the mobile phone where you have their SIM installed via a connection to their network.

 

I tried their activation process some months back with a mobile here in Thailand, and it simply wouldn't work. I tried sending them an SMS from other devices and on their SIM phone device set to wifi calling, and never made the necessary connection.

 

AFAIK, to activate new service, you do have to be physically in the U.S. and be able to have your mobile device with their SIM installed connect to their network there.

 

[Ronnie60]

6 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

I think at some point in the process, you need to be able to either get or send an SMS to Paygo on the mobile phone where you have their SIM installed via a connection to their network.

 

I tried their activation process some months back with a mobile here in Thailand, and it simply wouldn't work. I tried sending them an SMS from other devices and on their SIM phone device set to wifi calling, and never made the necessary connection.

 

AFAIK, to activate new service, you do have to be physically in the U.S. and be able to have your mobile device with their SIM installed connect to their network there.

 

I am currently physically in the US right now.  I had ordered the ultramobile paygo sim card not long ago and received it.

 

So I just want to make sure I'm doing this correctly as the instructions say you need to first send a text to GOGO if you want a new number.  They say if you want to keep your old number, you don't do this.  But I do not have a number.  

 

So does sending this text to GOGO necessary before I visit that website?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

8 minutes ago, Ronnie60 said:

I am currently physically in the US right now.  I had ordered the ultramobile paygo sim card not long ago and received it.

 

So I just want to make sure I'm doing this correctly as the instructions say you need to first send a text to GOGO if you want a new number.  They say if you want to keep your old number, you don't do this.  But I do not have a number.  

 

So does sending this text to GOGO necessary before I visit that website?

 

Sorry, it's been some months since I attempted their process, so I don't recall exactly what order of things is required.

 

 

[Ronnie60]

On 11/18/2021 at 9:12 PM, HappyGoLuckyLife said:

It's do the text method or go to the website:

 

To activate your PayGo plan, insert your SIM and complete an option below. To keep you current number: Visit paygo.ultra.me/activate To get a new number: Text GOGO and your ZIP code to 6700 or visit pay

go.ultra.me/activate

 

Okay I did that. I got a phone number and it tells me the date of when my month plan will expire and the date to recharge it. Also gives me a ultramobile link as well.

 

But when you sign in, you do that with username/phone number and password? Second option is via sms. Which do I choose?  Can't imagine you choose sms as if you do that, it will cost you a text message each time?  I know you get a hundred text messages a month.  How do I add some credit now so i dont need to recharge it next month?


Also right now i should make a few calls and use a bit of data and text here just to make sure everything is good right?

 

 

 

[Ronnie60]

So apparently when I go to ultramobile site on my laptop, then click sign in, i'm logged into my account. But what happens if I click sign out? How do i sign back in? Because don't I need to create a password or something? Again I did everything on my laptop earlier to activate it.



Earlier after I got it activated on my iphone, I turned off my wifi and turned on my data to test it and it did work. Used a few mb. When I check my account in my laptop, it does show few mb deducted in my remaining balance which is correct and thus it show how much mb I have left.



But earlier I did receive and text message a few with the ultramobile number. How come it doesn't seem to update this? Still shows I have 100/100 SMS Messages left? I had turned off my data earlier after I tested using the data for a bit. So I been on wifi ever since. But how come it didn't deduct any SMS messages?
 

I also notice in cellular in my iphone, it shows ultra as the network selection. But wi-fi calling is off. Do I need to turn this on? I know this has to be turned on when I'm outside the US but what about right now? But what if its turned off while I"m in the US? I mean I just sent text message earlier that went through etc and the wifi-calling was off. I am on my wifi though.


Also people mentioned about making your phone go on airplane mode. This is only necessary when you are abroad right? But not necessary when in the Us? I'm confused why people said you need to make it go to airplane mode when abroad. Someone mention make it airplane mode and then undo it but confused what is meant by that.



For the recharging, it shows two options.

Ultra Paygo Recharge Card or Credit Card. I assume Credit Card means Credit/Debit Card? But what is the first option?

[Ronnie60]

I see in my ultramobile paygo account while on my laptop, there is option of


Wifi Talk and Text.


I see on my laptop screen, it is currently Disable as that is the default. So I need to change this to Enable?


Then once I do that, Turn Wi-Fi Calling from Off to On on my iphone?



I assume I have to have these settings while abroad. But If I'm using it right now in the US, is it necessary... since well I"m not roaming now?



But can someone explain why I didn't have any sms messages deducted earlier? Does it have something to do with if you are using wifi but make sms text messages, there is no limit? That cannot be correct right? I still need to do a voice call to test it but just want to make sure my settings now are correct.

[gamb00ler]

Earlier in this topic I mentioned that I was not successfully receiving inbound calls on my Google Voice number. 

 

It seems now that the inbound calls are working very well.  I did a couple of things with my account and I'm not sure how the problem was "fixed".  I installed GV on my wife's iPhone and I disabled and then re-enabled inbound calling.  I also set it up so only my iPhone will ring for inbound calls by disabling desktop and my wife's phone.

 

Also GV hasn't asked me to re-verify for at least 6 months.

 

Darn good service for free!

[JimmyJ]

Much lower prices now to call the USA using Ultramobile/Paygo?

Or just more Paygo confusion?

 

"UpRoam".

 

https://www.ultramobile.com/paygo/international-roaming/

 

Can anyone make sense of this?

 

Logged into my account, I see nothing about "UpRoam" (no link to an info page).

Are they just suggesting logging in to add money to our wallet?

 

Is it really 0.25/min. to call the USA, or still the exorbitant int'l. charges listed here:

 

https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/prepaid-international-roaming

 

1 thing is for sure - cs will be clueless.

 

 

 

[Yellowtail]

WiFi calling is free

[JimmyJ]

2 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

WiFi calling is free

Unfortunately my phone doesn't support that.

 

TextNow stopped working for me as my voice call backup, so this could work in an emergency if really 0.25/minute.

[Yellowtail]

59 minutes ago, JimmyJ said:

Unfortunately my phone doesn't support that.

 

TextNow stopped working for me as my voice call backup, so this could work in an emergency if really 0.25/minute.

If there is an actual emergency does it really matter what it costs? 

[JimmyJ]

On 12/14/2021 at 4:32 PM, JimmyJ said:

Much lower prices now to call the USA using Ultramobile/Paygo?

Or just more Paygo confusion?

 

"UpRoam".

 

https://www.ultramobile.com/paygo/international-roaming/

 

Can anyone make sense of this?

 

Logged into my account, I see nothing about "UpRoam" (no link to an info page).

Are they just suggesting logging in to add money to our wallet?

 

Is it really 0.25/min. to call the USA, or still the exorbitant int'l. charges listed here:

 

https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/prepaid-international-roaming

 

1 thing is for sure - cs will be clueless.

 

 

 

Pib/TallGuy/others - please weigh in if you have any thoughts on what "Uproam" is.

 

Thanks.

[NanLaew]

Has anyone tried or have experience with Mint Mobile out of the US?

 

A quick look at their offering seems that international roaming is supported and since I would want it solely for Two Factor Authentication with US banks and other online interactions, it would appear to be sufficient, no?

 

https://www.mintmobile.com/

[Yellowtail]

10 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Has anyone tried or have experience with Mint Mobile out of the US?

 

A quick look at their offering seems that international roaming is supported and since I would want it solely for Two Factor Authentication with US banks and other online interactions, it would appear to be sufficient, no?

 

https://www.mintmobile.com/

 

I have had Mint for over two years and it's been great.

[kokesaat]

10 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Has anyone tried or have experience with Mint Mobile out of the US?

 

A quick look at their offering seems that international roaming is supported and since I would want it solely for Two Factor Authentication with US banks and other online interactions, it would appear to be sufficient, no?

 

https://www.mintmobile.com/

I've had mint for two full years now.  I use it when I'm in the US, and while in Thailand on those rare occasions to receive verification texts/codes.  I just renew for a year....cheap....chalk it up to the cost of living overseas.

[JimmyJ]

Starting a few weeks ago, I cannot log into citi.com.

 

I worked on it yesterday, trying 4 browsers and 2 phones.

Also chatted with my VPN and tried about 6 different USA locations.

 

I'm going to simply stop using the credit card - not worth the hassle.

 

But wondering if anyone of you are currently able to login to citi.com using a VPN - I'm assuming that's the issue.

 

Not having this issue at any other sites.

[JimmyJ]

Yellowtail/cokesaat/ others -

 

How much are you paying for Mint and what's included?

 

 

[Yellowtail]

59 minutes ago, JimmyJ said:

Yellowtail/cokesaat/ others -

 

How much are you paying for Mint and what's included?

 

 

I pay $180 a year and get unlimited calls and four gigs of data. The data do not roll, which bums a little. 

 

I make and receive calls regularly (including Chase & Fidelity)  using wifi calling, which is great. 

 

I do not use roaming data, but rather use my Thai phone's hotspot when away from home. I do the opposite when in the US, which makes it free and easy to take and make "line" calls to Thailand and wifi calls to the US.

 

Their idiotic marketing once a month is a little insulting, but so far so good.

 

I set it up while in the US, and I thought the coverage in the US was great.