If you don’t want to give someone your main phone number, here’s how to set up temporary phone numbers, also known as “printer” phone numbers, on iPhone.
If you sell stuff on Craigslist often, you’ll probably submit your main phone number without worrying too much, but that leaves you open to receiving lots of spam calls and text messages from bots that crawl Craigslist looking for phone numbers.
Also, your main phone number should really only be reserved for people you know or trust. For example, I only give my main phone number to my friends and family. Everyone else, including contractors or repairers we need to call and contact, will have my burner phone number.
There are several ways to set temporary phone numbers, maybe the best way printer app for iPhonelets you create temporary numbers to use for anything you want.
The burner has been around for several years, but the app has been recently updated with Premium burner phone numbers that you can keep as long as you want, and the ability to link your burner number to a number of different apps, such as: Dropbox and Evernote.
In any case, here is how to set temporary phone numbers on iPhone.
Temporary Phone Numbers with Burners
The Burner app is a popular option for creating temporary phone numbers and is really easy to set up.
After downloading the app, open it and sign up for an account. All you have to do is enter the country you live in and the main phone number of your iPhone where you downloaded the app. From there, you’ll be good to go.
The app guides you through the process of creating a temporary phone number and it’s really easy and simple to do. Essentially, though, you’ll enter an area code of your choice and the app will generate a phone number for you.
You can give the phone number a specific name (like Craigslist if you use the number for Craigslist). This temporary phone number will expire in seven days, giving you plenty of time just when you need it temporarily.
You can also only get 40 texts and 20 minutes per phone number, but you can buy more credits or spring, for $4.99 per month for an unlimited plan in the Burner app.
Once you have created your number, you can place a call or initiate a text message conversation directly from the Burner app and when you receive a call or text, the app will notify you, but be aware that all calls and texts are made within it. It’s probably a good idea not to use the Burner app and the stock Phone and Messages app on your iPhone so you don’t mix business with pleasure.
Create a Secondary Number with Google Voice
While Burner’s unlimited plan lets you keep a phone number for as long as you want, it has a free method of generating a secondary phone number and it’s called Google Voice.
We’ve talked about Google Voice in the past for being a great alternative to your carrier’s crappy voicemail service, but with Google Voice you can also have a second phone number without paying a dime.
If you already have a Google account, you can easily sign up for Google Voice by going to: Google Voice website and login with your Google account.
Click on it and then enter a forwarding number that will become your main phone number. Follow the steps provided to verify the forwarding number.
After that you can search for a suitable Google Voice number. You can search by area code, zip code, or word/phrase, then see options to choose from. The nice thing about Google Voice is that unlike Burner you can choose your own phone number.
After you create your Google Voice number, you can use it to make and receive calls, as well as send and receive text messages. The only downside is that text messages don’t support MMS and the Google Voice app on iPhone isn’t all that great.
But you now have a secondary phone number that doesn’t expire, and it’s completely free.
