When I moved to Ireland in 2008, it was meant to be a short-term stay. Over 14 years later, I’m still here. In that time, I’ve learned a great deal about how to live in one country while my history lies in another. But the trickiest bits are maintaining a presence in the States for when I visit or if I move back. Thankfully, one of my earliest lessons was how to have your own American phone number anywhere in the world and I’m sharing that with you today.
In my early years, I was consulting for a Washington DC-based management consulting firm. I quickly realized how essential it was to be reachable by phone. Zoom grew to be useful for meetings, but for a quick call or to reach out to third-party businesses, a phone and US number helped a lot. This post shares my experience with two phone ‘plan’ options that work within the US and abroad with minimal roaming charges: Skype and Google Fi.
Skype
That was when I started using a Skype phone number which rings through to my Skype app. The annual fee is well worth it, especially when I need a US number to reserve a rental car on trips. I also pay a small monthly fee for unlimited US calls to certain numbers. And because it works on WiFi, it is great for when you’ve just landed and need to coordinate with whoever is collecting you from the airport or check on the status of your hotel/airbnb. And as I’ve found over the past two years, it is great for managing the administrative tasks in the wake of losing a loved one while living abroad.
However, there are limitations to the Skype online number option – mostly the SMS capabilities and unreliable calls. If I need to receive an SMS for third-party authentication, it does not usually go through via my Skype account. If you have completely moved your entire life to your new country, this matters less. But maintaining a financial presence in the US is advised for any American living abroad who may return regularly or to live in the future. And banks rely on third-party authentication. Also, the sound inconsistency of incoming phone calls. Sometimes, the other party cannot hear me when I answer. I don’t know why. It works more often than not though, so I keep it on.
Google Fi
Recently, I added a new tool to my American abroad kit accidentally. My mother was using a Google Fi account for her phone and when she passed away, I took it over. Keeping her number for a year after her death to settle her affairs is easier knowing the phone works in Ireland! So long as a Google Fi account/number is initiated within the US, it can be used anywhere. Because it relies on WiFi, the cost is minimal. And best of all – it can receive SMS texts.
You can often transfer an existing number to this service and there is an app. Voicemails can be shown as text when possible, though I only just learned this now as my mother hadn’t set up her voicemail properly so we only just received two years of messages at once after she died and I set it up.
The element of Google Fi I feel is most helpful is that if you travel to the States frequently and need seamless use of the same phone number, it allows that without always needing WiFi. For instance, previous trips home we would still need a mobile phone T-Mobile eSIM (my preference) to have a phone out and about or GPS capabilities while driving. So in addition to the Skype number, I also had to pay about $50 per phone for a month for cellular service so I could access the Skype number outside WiFi. But with Google Fi, it relies on WiFi, but its network in the States means I can rely on it when traveling back as well as when home in Ireland on WiFi. I’ve not tested it in other countries, but it worked well using the Heathrow WiFi on my travels this past month.
Your Choice
One thing to keep in mind with any resource is sustainability. Choose a provider that is established and reliable. Read reviews based on where you are and your needs, such as ‘Google Fi’ Ireland, Reddit is good for such things.
No matter your needs or preference, there are more and more options for staying in touch with friends and family abroad. Ultimately, staying connected is how we manage living overseas and any tool which helps us do that affordably and stress-free is one I value.
What do you use when you travel?