Keeping US cell phone number for text & talk when moving there

[Dimitri_fl]

I tried a search for this question first but only post I found was from 2009 so I assume the answers have changed.

We are moving there next month and currently both share a Sprint/T-Mobile business plan for our cell phones and have numbers that we have had for over a decade that we want to keep and be able to keep using once there. I also have a 1-800 number for my business that currently is ported to this cell phone # I have. I am curious what others who run businesses in the states from Argentina have done about maintaining phone/text contact through their US numbers. Ideally we could do this from a cell phone but I also know we will need cell phones with Argentine numbers for our contacts there.

Looking for any and all advice as well as relative costs to expect.

Thanks so much!

I've used MagicJack for years for international travel. You can port your US # to MJ and received SMS texts right on your phone or Computer. Check their webpage. Annual reasonable fee.

 

[jblaze5779]

My Google voice works fine with bank sms.

 

[Delaluz26]

I've used MagicJack for years for international travel. You can port your US # to MJ and received SMS texts right on your phone or Computer. Check their webpage. Annual reasonable fee.

We used to be avid Magic Jack users and perhaps eventually we will again but for now we're doing a strange combo of things that's working though not for the long term likely.

 

[Brian_is_here]

I've been on Google Fi (with a physical Sim not an e-sim) since 2019. No issues. Unlimited data. I tend to return to the US every 6 months or so.

I do recommend if you do google fi, get a physical sim, so you aren't married to your phone in case of say... your phone breaks.

 

[Sequoia1321]

I've been on Google Fi (with a physical Sim not an e-sim) since 2019. No issues. Unlimited data. I tend to return to the US every 6 months or so.

I do recommend if you do google fi, get a physical sim, so you aren't married to your phone in case of say... your phone breaks.

If your phone breaks can’t you just get another phone and esim it again with Google fi?

 

[Brian_is_here]

If your phone breaks can’t you just get another phone and esim it again with Google fi?

Sure. Google says you gotta activate inside the USA. They may or may not let you activate. Or if you had a physical sim... you'd be a-ok. Pop that into a new phone.

 

[Sequoia1321]

Sure. Google says you gotta activate inside the USA. They may or may not let you activate. Or if you had a physical sim... you'd be a-ok. Pop that into a new phone.

That’s a good idea. What about popular Argentinian wireless providers, do they accept esim usually? I have dual sim phone so if I use a physical Google Fi sim then my only other option is to use an esim for other providers.

 

[FrankPintor]

That’s a good idea. What about popular Argentinian wireless providers, do they accept esim usually? I have dual sim phone so if I use a physical Google Fi sim then my only other option is to use an esim for other providers.

How do you mean "accept" eSIMs? As far as the network provider is concerned, it's just a SIM,

If you mean get an eSIM installed here in Argentina, Telecom Personal used to provide this service at Ezeiza, that was pre-pandemic so I'm not sure if they still do it.

 

[Sequoia1321]

Sure. Google says you gotta activate inside the USA. They may or may not let you activate. Or if you had a physical sim... you'd be a-ok. Pop that into a new phone.

Must you have already activated and be using the physical sim for this to work in the event your phone gets broke, or is it ok to order a physical sim and keep it on the side for emergencies? I spoke to Google Fi customer support and told them the issue and she said if you’re outside the country technically you can’t activate even if you’re on a physical sim, because it looks at the device IMEI number or something like that, and if that’s a device that’s not on your list of devices on Google Fi, like for example a prior phone you were using on Google Fi, then it won’t be allowed to activate outside of the country. But she said you can call in and they have specialist who will try to see if they can get it done. She said esim is better than physical sim because it works better with the network, or something, don’t recall exactly. She did recommend having a physical sim as a backup. Anyways, I ordered a physical sim, it was free, but not sure if I should activate it as well.

 

[lunar]

I ordered a physical sim, it was free, but not sure if I should activate it as well.

Yes, activate it while in the USA. Keep it connected to the network, make a few calls.