Getting a USA Phone Number
Voicemail Only/Fax
Like getting a US address, you may find it easier to get a USA phone number and if you have your own US company, then you will need a
local contact number. You have two options, one is to get a voicemail only service. JConnect offers you a US phone number for $15
(£8.50) per month and allows you to send a receive faxes, on the same number also. There are additional costs for sending outgoing
faxes $0.10 (£0.06) per page. When somebody leaves you a voicemail, they will e-mail you with the recorded message as an attachment
with the caller ID.
Voice Over IP (VoIP)
Your second option is to use a Voice Over IP (VoIP) phone service. This allows people in the US to call you directly for the cost of a local or
national call and allows you to call toll-free numbers for free.
I use 8x8 for my phone service. I have one of their Aastra 6755i handsets
and have direct dial New York and Texas numbers. My calls are routed over the internet to give me a US dial tone and local/national call rates to anywhere
in the USA. The handset was around $200 and their service is about $40 per month. Calls can be forwarded to voicemail, which is useful with
the time difference. The 8x8 Virtual Office Pro service gives you fax capability and iPhone calling through 3G and Wireless networks.
Mobile/Cell Number
Another option, although not recommended as your primary number, is to get a pre-pay cell/mobile SIM card. Unfortunately these don't work
outside of the US, but while you're in the US can provide a much cheaper option for incoming and outgoing calls. Some companies now offer
a 1-year expiration if you put $100 of calling credit on your phone.
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Please Note - The information contained in this section is only my opinion and should not be regarded as legal or tax advice