How to get a second phone number without a landline or SIM card

Ever wish you could separate work and personal calls without carrying two phones?

Getting a second phone number is simpler than you might expect. You might want one to keep your personal number private when using your phone for business calls, or you might need a dedicated business number entirely.

Below, we’ll walk you through how to get a second phone number — whether for work, privacy, or convenience — including how to set up a second phone number for your Android device or iPhone.

How to get a second phone number in 3 steps

You can create a second phone number with Quo to use on your computer and smartphone in three simple steps:

1. Sign up for an account with Quo (formerly OpenPhone) — when you sign up, you can try out Quo free for seven days.
2. Pick a phone number — during signup, select your city or area code in the US or Canada to pick your phone number or select a North American toll-free number.
3. Download the app — after finishing the signup process (including picking your preferred plan), you can download the iOS or Android app to start calling and customizing your phone settings.

You now have a virtual phone number. If you run into any issues during the signup process, fill out this form to reach our support team.

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Why you might need to get a second phone number 

Not yet convinced you need a second phone number?

Here are seven reasons why a second phone number can upgrade your business and your personal privacy:

1. Keep your personal phone number private

Getting an alternate phone number means you don’t have to give your personal number to customers. You also don’t have to publish it directly on your website, which means bad actors and spammers can’t scrape your personal details. With separate contact books, you’ll know which phone calls are personal and which are for work — so you’ll know exactly how to respond to every incoming call.

2. Balance work and personal time

When you use a personal phone for work, you’re vulnerable to receiving calls at any time. The right second phone number app lets you set working hours so customers know when they can reach you. When you’re unavailable, you can set up a voicemail or call forwarding workflow to set clear expectations and provide additional information.

3. Share your business number with your team

As a customer, you’ve probably faced situations where you called a local business and couldn’t reach them. The reason is their number is likely with their owner and isn’t shared by all their team members. Shared numbers can help you avoid this situation by giving your team access to incoming calls and messages.

You don’t have to leave your customers waiting (or feel glued to your phone during peak business hours). You can also take advantage of using one phone number on two phones to be more flexible with how you answer calls and text messages.

4. Record your calls to track customer requests

Business phone numbers can help you record calls and generate call summaries and transcriptions for future use. This helps you track what you’ve promised your customers and maintain a paper trail in case of disputes.

5. Integrate with your tool stack

If you run a business, you probably use several tools to manage your daily operations. With the right second phone number provider, you can share your call and message data with your CRM and Slack accounts. This means you don’t have to spend time keeping track of your customer relationships — you can focus on building them instead.

6. Minimize spam and robocalls

Getting a second line helps filter spam and robocalls, saving your team time by using an IVR (auto-attendant) to block most spam calls, as robocalls are unable to interact with IVRs. This feature keeps your line clear for business contacts and improves productivity.

 7. Replace your landline

Landlines may be reliable, but they come with major limitations: you’re stuck in one location, you pay expensive long-distance fees, and you can’t text customers. A virtual second phone number solves all three problems while letting you and your team work from anywhere.

Must-have features to look for in a second phone number

Choosing the wrong second phone number provider can leave you juggling multiple apps, missing customer calls, and scrambling to switch services. Avoid these pitfalls by prioritizing these key features:

• Shared team inbox: You’ll ideally be able to collaborate on texts and calls with your team using a shared inbox. This gives you full oversight over conversations and helps customers get faster responses. 
• Auto-reply texts: Avoid leaving customers hanging with auto-replies that send when you can’t answer the phone. Look for apps that let you customize auto-replies based on triggers like missed calls, missed texts, or voicemails. 
• Customizable voicemail: Being able to customize your voicemail greeting helps give customers a good first impression. You can keep them up to date on your business hours, holiday closures, and other important info. 
• Integrations: Your second phone number app shouldn’t make work more complicated. Look for integrations with tools you already use like your CRM or workflow tools like Zapier and Make. 
• Call recording: Recording calls helps with record-keeping, training, and legal compliance — essential for any business that relies on phone conversations.
• Customer support: When problems arise, look for a provider with responsive support. Read real customer reviews and reach out to support with a pre-sales question to test their responsiveness. 
• Number porting: If you ever need to switch providers, number porting ensures you won’t lose your established business number and can make the transition seamless.

The good news? You don’t have to compromise. Modern business phone systems like Quo bundle all these features together, so you get everything you need in one platform without juggling multiple apps or paying for extras.

Download Quo to get a second phone number 

As a small business owner, getting a second phone number is a simple way to promote work-life balance. Fortunately, there are plenty of tools you can use to get a second number and call without a SIM card.

But not all second number apps are built alike. If you want the best bang for your buck, you need to invest in a platform that can grow alongside you.

Quo is the best small business phone system and the easiest way to add a work number to your existing phone number on iOS, Android, or desktop — and enjoy advanced features designed for business owners by business owners.

Ready to see how Quo can transform business communications? Get started today with our seven-day free trial.

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