phone service without cell service?

[punkncat]

It has been a number of years since I have dealt with or tried to utilize something along the lines of Google Voice (etc.) to receive calls. At one time there were a couple of things you could do to enable a tablet, for instance, that had Wi-Fi but no cell to make and receive calls via your Voice #. About the time they made the changes where it just ports to your actual 'cell phone' number I quit utilizing it and have not followed the current situation.

Is there any modern method or app that allows you to have a phone number on a device that is not cell enabled/paid so long as you are within Wi-Fi access?

[Siress]

Several. I use Google Voice.

[punkncat]

Several. I use Google Voice.

Recently I attempted to start using my GV the way that I did previously, which was to use the app on a tablet that is not cell active equipped. You can receive texts and can answer voice mail via GV and IIRC whatever they call the chat/message program. It will not let you make or receive calls without porting the GV program to an active phone number.

If I am missing something, pls let me know.

In regard to the need. I don't have a "work" phone. I won't use my personal phone for work because in past experience that ends up having customers call you on your private line all times of the day and night. I haven't liked the experience with porting GV to my personal phone either. Previously I was using a Nexus tablet as a phone while paired to my headset, but it will not allow me to make/take calls any more. Some functionality was removed that previously allowed this so long as connected to Wi-Fi

[Siress]

Hmm. Not sure. I have had a google number for so many years that I may have been grandfathered into whatever I have. I will say that I have it set to forward to my normal cell number, so maybe that satisfied the requirement.

[Cunha]

A word for what you are looking for is VOIP voice over IP so there are many services you will find. Google voice is the first one that had traction because it was google who offered it. There are a lot of them that sell your number to advertisers so you get mega spam calls the second you get it set up. Beware of that. I would probably type "VOIP reddit" and see what people say on reddit. Not because reddit is great but because its where i bet you will find answers since I can't think of a message board that would cover that topic.

[Seajay]

VOIP or Wifi Calling. It's fine if you intend to make calls using your computer/tablet etc... As for making it your primary phone number... as said, massive spam magnet because your "phone number" is exposed to data calls instead of voice calls. the Telephone protections of most countries don't cover internet data, so your privacy is hit or miss.

If you want a phone number, there are a lot of very cheap options out there.

Making calls yourself VOIP is fine, as a primary phone option it's not great.

[punkncat]

Yes, not as a primary. As above, this is for work. "We" have a work phone and in most cases that number is forwarded to personal phone for receiving calls. The down side of that is when you 'call someone back' you are calling from your own # and (read above). So what happens when I have to make a call since GV changes is to physically go get the work cell and make my call from it. Never mind if I am waiting for the slurry of calls it gets to stop long enough to do so.

When I used the tablet and or old phone and GV it worked well and was something that I could simply turn off and not worry about such as over the weekend and things. It came up as the GV number when returning calls and was quite handy in that respect.