In the US we have apps like textfree or text now etc. Those allow you to have a cell number of your choice from basically anywhere
Is there similar apps like these for a japanese number? Line won't work because I need a japanese number already to use it and Skype numbers are a joke
I want to still keep my US plan but also have a second local japanese number
by ThorsFuture
10 comments
Google Voice maybe? A friend said she registered her US number with Google Voice while also having a Japanese phone number.
I want to keep TMobile, I have unlimited everything for $25 a month. I just need a japanese number, google voice won’t give me a japanese number and I don’t want to pay $100 a month for a japanese number and a free US number app
I just saw something the other day that soft bank has something where you can keep your us phone number with them? Not sure if this applies to what your asking for or not.
No, it doesn’t, I don’t want to pay another $100 bill just to get a japanese number.
I’m literally just looking for an app that’s not Skype that gives me a japanese cell phone number
I use WhatsApp but it will only link to one phone number at a time. The number can be switched though if you need it to.
Edit: Actually disregard. I misread the post.
Due to phone regulations, I don’t think you’re going to find what you’re looking for. I’ve actually been doing some work on programmable text and voice applications here in Japan and while I can get a Japanese number to use for VoIP services (after ID verification and a small monthly fee and due to how and this is just for the number…I have to run my own VoIP server to actually use it and most VoIP apps on mobile aren’t reliable and will kill battery life due to needing a constant connection to the VoIP server), there are no numbers that are compatible with SMS. I know you want to keep your Tmobile plan, but you can get similar plans from Japanese carriers like UQ and use Google Voice for your US number as someone else suggested (and you can port your US number to Google Voice AFAIK).
The best option we found was getting a phone with rechargeable minutes from Soft bank. Only costs about $30 every three months after buying the phone.
Does your phone support dual sim? (Physical + esim) you could get some cheap japanese sim and keep your old one too
You can get a plan from iijmio or other low-cost carrier. A basic plan with voice and 2GB typically cost about 850 yen a month (about $7 perhaps?).
just a headsup. ijmio and UQ are off limit to SOFA status. cheapest you can get really is docomo(best signal) or Ymobile (worst signal). ive tried inquiring as well and most dont want to cater to SOFA status because of payment issues