Recently, we talked about the availability of fake phone numbers (or “virtual”), and after mentioning a couple of apps, some readers chimed in with their own recommendations. One of them is TextNow, which lets you have a US phone number free of charge through its official app.
In case you haven't seen our previous article, fake phone numbers are a double-edged sword. On one hand, they can do a lot of harm in the wrong hands. On the other, they help us protect our privacy, and serve to poison the constant collection of Big Data and other online services. The rest depends on you.
But there is a “subset” (so to speak) among fake phone numbers: numbers belonging to a specific country. For example, some not-so-advanced services require a US phone number, mainly as a geographic restriction. If you run into that difficulty, you can try the TextNow app.
How to Get a US Phone Number with TextNow
The process is relatively simple. First, download the app, create an account, and enable the necessary permissions on your device (do you want a phone number on your tablet? This will help). Then it will ask you to confirm the area code. Instead of using the device's location, select “Don’t Use Location” and enter a valid US area code. For example, “260” covers all of northeastern Indiana, but you can try others.
TextNow will present a list of available free phone numbers. Pick one, or wait for the list to refresh if none appeal to you. Once setup is complete, TextNow will be ready to make and receive calls. The US, Mexico, and Canada have no charge, while in other regions, rates are more than reasonable.
Create a WhatsApp Account with TextNow: Yes or No?
Actually… yes “and” no. The video published by “Danny” on his YouTube channel shows us the main difficulty when creating a WhatsApp account with TextNow... which is WhatsApp itself. For the messenger, some TextNow numbers don’t even belong to the US, and others have been “blocked” by the platform. The solution? Try again until verification goes through. Another detail to keep in mind (and its users warn about) is activity. You have to log into the TextNow account before 30 days. Good luck!
Official site (iOS and Android): Click here
