@gomez@toot.walesOk my US friends I need some help. I'm in the UK but I've had a NYC phone number (718) for ever via Skype, which is now closing.
My MiL uses the number to call us without international call charges.
I need a recommendation for a Skype replacement that I can port the number to and who can give me a mobile app to make and receive calls on. The ability to redirect calls to my landline would be an advantage.
Any recommendations gratefully received.
@gomez International person here 
It sounds weird and high-maintenance, but it actually works quite seamlessly: Snikket + JMP.chat + Cheogram on the Android phone. Basically, SMS messages and phone calls routed through XMPP.
Snikket and JMP.chat have a partnership where you can get Snikket hosting and a JMP.chat number in a bundle for $5.00 per month. You can port an existing number to JMP as well.
@pcrock
Thanks I'll take a look later.
Can't use technology at the US end, limited to land line phone only.
@gomez Try google voice.
@gomez We currently use tello - ported our colorado number to it - can place and receive calls using that number here in Portugal as long as we are on wifi - might do for you. (tello.com) - you can just get their cheapest plan for that and if/when you travel to the US you can bump it up for a month to a more useful cell phone plan. That's about all I can remember as my wife takes care of this - good luck!
@gomez the ai stuff is probably crap and you don't need it but you can have an american phone number with it. https://new.devyce.com/
@gomez Maybe Google voice. I know, Google is evil now. Maybe a states-side voip provider with a standard voip app.
Looking at all of the voip apps, it's hard to tell which ones are truly good. Trial and error.
@NoRezervationz
Yeah, a few have suggested G voice. I need to find out if I can port my existing number into it.
@gomez I know they do have the ability to port phone numbers.
@gomez Only thing I’ll throw in here is I just listened to an episode of Accidental Tech Podcast where Marco needed VoIP for a project and bought some too expensive “normal” gear and had all kinds of problems with it. Then bought VoIP gear from Ubiquity and got it up running properly very quickly, so maybe that’s worth looking into. I remember those VoIP boxes being very finicky and unreliable back when I last had them. This is of course mostly relevant if you want a “landline”. Otherwise a solid software SIP client and a VoIP account should do the trick.
@trezzer
I just need a way to call my US number from a landline so that I can answer in the UK.
I don't need to make outgoing calls from it.
@gomez Hi Gomez. The (free) Signal app will allow international calls for free, and they’re encrypted. AFAIK the only requirement is that the person receiving the call has the Signal app too.
@Hawaii
That's my issue. My MiL is 95 only has a landline phone and is never going to get anything else, and why would she?
The beauty of the Skype number is she can just call the number and it gets forwarded to my landline or the Skype app on the wife's phone if we are out and about.
@gomez @MsHearthWitch Google voice is the first thing that comes to mind
@consumablejoy @gomez @MsHearthWitch that's what I was going to say too, but it's only fully functional in the US. Texts are possible overseas but not phone calls.
@consumablejoy
Thanks I'll check it out. Do you know if you can port existing numbers in to it
@MsHearthWitch
@gomez @MsHearthWitch You can but see other comments that say only texting works internationally
@gomez If you can configure an SIP client, I have had good use from https://voip.ms/products
For decades, I've used a VOIP provider called https://vitelity.net.
I use it with a SIP client on my phone or computer. They don't seem to have a simple call-forwarding option, but they do have a hosted asterisk option, with some templates that maybe you could use set up forwarding. I've never used that though.
@gomez you may not want to, but I had luck inside the states with Google voice. It was a one time port fee, but I've had it there for years and it rings my cell and home.
@m750
Thanks I'll look if I can do that from here
@gomez not from US or friends, nor will allow you port your existing number, but something to consider, local number, will ring on your smart phone app https://hushed.com/