Using an old mobile number

[Spoiler]

Looking at options to keep an old mobile phone number active. Currently it's in an old iPhone (which needs regular charging), on Three's PAYG (321) so I just top up maybe once a year and it's peanuts to keep. I use it for receiving texts (mainly OTP login codes). Calls are diverted to my main mobile number.

But ... I wouldn't mind ditching the second phone. However as I'm a tight arse I haven't come up with an easy solution that's cheap enough.

Nicest way would be to use an eSIM in my iPhone, but EE want £9 month for that.
Had a look at VOIP options, but it seems they don't handle receiving texts that well.

Maybe I just stick with the PAYG SIM and get a cheap handset that I don't have to charge so often.

Any other options I haven't considered ? thanks.

[SimonMac]

Looking at options to keep an old mobile phone number active. Currently it's in an old iPhone (which needs regular charging), on Three's PAYG (321) so I just top up maybe once a year and it's peanuts to keep. I use it for receiving texts (mainly OTP login codes). Calls are diverted to my main mobile number.

But ... I wouldn't mind ditching the second phone. However as I'm a tight arse I haven't come up with an easy solution that's cheap enough.

Nicest way would be to use an eSIM in my iPhone, but EE want £9 month for that.
Had a look at VOIP options, but it seems they don't handle receiving texts that well.

Maybe I just stick with the PAYG SIM and get a cheap handset that I don't have to charge so often.

Any other options I haven't considered ? thanks.

I have a Tesco's PAYG SIM card and top it up twice or three times a year with £10, works for me

[xoggoth]

Keep a really ancient old O2 PAYG phone in van as spare. Never use it except to call my own phone line every 6 months to ensure account stays active. I talk to myself anyway.

[WLB2018]

Would getting a phone with a dual sim slot work?

Have both in and then from time to time use it? Keeps both active and in one phone?

just a thought...

WLB

[Spoiler]

Would getting a phone with a dual sim slot work?

Have both in and then from time to time use it? Keeps both active and in one phone?

just a thought...

WLB

No dual sim slot in my iPhone. I could do it now though with the eSIM function, but I'm too tight to pay the monthly EE fee for the eSIM.

Think I'll just get a cheap phone (maybe android) which holds it charge well, and stick the existing PAYG sim into that.

[Anonimouse]

Replace the iPhone battery

[Hobosapien]

Keep your iPhone on charge in a car. You can then use the 'find my iphone' facility as a cheap car tracker if it's stolen, or in your wife's car if you're possessive, or in a spare car if family members often borrow it and you want to keep tabs on it.

[Stevie Wonder Boy]

Looking at options to keep an old mobile phone number active. Currently it's in an old iPhone (which needs regular charging), on Three's PAYG (321) so I just top up maybe once a year and it's peanuts to keep. I use it for receiving texts (mainly OTP login codes). Calls are diverted to my main mobile number.

But ... I wouldn't mind ditching the second phone. However as I'm a tight arse I haven't come up with an easy solution that's cheap enough.

Nicest way would be to use an eSIM in my iPhone, but EE want �9 month for that.
Had a look at VOIP options, but it seems they don't handle receiving texts that well.

Maybe I just stick with the PAYG SIM and get a cheap handset that I don't have to charge so often.

Any other options I haven't considered ? thanks.

I thought you were supposed to use them once then eat them afterwards?

[northernladuk]

I thought you were supposed to use them once then eat them afterwards?

Not recommended...

[minestrone]

Port your number to twilio and set up SMS and call forwarding to your first number.

Setting Up Call Forwarding – Twilio Support
Forwarding SMS messages to another phone number – Twilio Support

edit: I think it's 2 dollars a month for a mobile number