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Save and Use an US Phone Number in Korea?

 
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StDan



Joined: 10 Feb 2012

PostPosted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 12:55 pm    Post subject: Save and Use an US Phone Number in Korea? Reply with quote

What is the best way to save an existing cell phone number (US number in this instance) while in Korea. My preference is to find a service or way to recieve my phone calls, text messages, and voicemail from my US number while being in Korea. It seems possible to receive at least phone calls and voicemail, inexpensively. What services can people suggest? My carrier is AT&T and they offer no inexpensive service to forward calls. Please help me with the logistics of this. Thank you in advance.
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golsa



Joined: 12 Feb 2012

PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 5:18 am    Post subject: Re: Save and Use an US Phone Number in Korea? Reply with quote

StDan wrote:
What is the best way to save an existing cell phone number (US number in this instance) while in Korea. My preference is to find a service or way to recieve my phone calls, text messages, and voicemail from my US number while being in Korea. It seems possible to receive at least phone calls and voicemail, inexpensively. What services can people suggest? My carrier is AT&T and they offer no inexpensive service to forward calls. Please help me with the logistics of this. Thank you in advance.


Sign up for Google Voice, which is free, or get a Skype number in the US town of your choice. Ditch the old number, give the Google Voice or Skype number to your friends, and take it from there.
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davai!



Joined: 04 Dec 2005
Location: Kuwait

PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 2:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think you're SOL on getting text messages, unless you physically give someone your phone and have him email them to you....

AT&T has a pay as you go service, you could just pay $0.10/minute for calls when you are IN the US, and leave it going for voicemail (free to receive and retreive). NB-it is next to impossible for you to change from a contract to Pay-as-you-go without visiting an AT&T store...

I had that problem, so I ported my number over to T-mobile. I get the same rate from them. You will need to re-up every month or quarter(possible online), or if you spend $100 on minutes at any time, you will get your minutes to last a year. )you get gold status, so even a $10 refill lasts that long)

when I'm abroad I just call my phone with skype and check my VM from there.

T-mobile also now has an option where you can get one month of unlimited text, calls and data for $50. at the end of that month, you just go back to the pay-as-you-go plan... so, if you go back to the US for a few weeks you can have the use of your smartphone.

good luck
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john110375



Joined: 30 Jul 2007
Location: seoul

PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 2:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There is an application called (text free with voice) it gives you a phone number and it's free. You can recieve calls (it's better on wifi) but also recieve and send texts free too. Smile you can choose your American city and even get a local area code.
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12ax7



Joined: 07 Nov 2009

PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 9:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Get a smartphone, download the Fring app. Cheapest long distance fees, just 0.02$ per minute to North America and the sound quality is great if you're on WIFI. I have Gmail installed on my phone, so if someone wants to call me they can send me an email and I call them back.
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ThingsComeAround



Joined: 07 Nov 2008

PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 11:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Try Magic Jack
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golsa



Joined: 12 Feb 2012

PostPosted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 2:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

davai! wrote:
I think you're SOL on getting text messages, unless you physically give someone your phone and have him email them to you....


Not at all. This is exactly why I suggest Google Voice. You send and receive texts on any smart phone, iPod touch (with wifi), or computer anywhere in the world.
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StDan



Joined: 10 Feb 2012

PostPosted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 5:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

golsa wrote:
davai! wrote:
I think you're SOL on getting text messages, unless you physically give someone your phone and have him email them to you....


Not at all. This is exactly why I suggest Google Voice. You send and receive texts on any smart phone, iPod touch (with wifi), or computer anywhere in the world.


Google Voice says it only currently forwards calls to US numbers.
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RobertGR



Joined: 03 Jun 2009
Location: Daegu

PostPosted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 2:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

StDan wrote:
golsa wrote:
davai! wrote:
I think you're SOL on getting text messages, unless you physically give someone your phone and have him email them to you....


Not at all. This is exactly why I suggest Google Voice. You send and receive texts on any smart phone, iPod touch (with wifi), or computer anywhere in the world.


Google Voice says it only currently forwards calls to US numbers.


You can get the calls and text in Google Voice (no phone necessary).
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