I want to setup a separate user profile for Google/invasive apps, and I want to be able to do phone calls and receive SMS with a number which is different from my real one. I do not need to do this anonymously, I am fine with the carrier or Google knowing that this number belongs to me (KYC), but I just don't want to share my real phone number (the one that I use regularly and I use, e.g. for Signal etc) with Google and friends.
After fiddling with eSIM (and failing - the TL;DR is that SMS and call history are shared across users), I think my only solution is to do phone calls + SMS via VOIP. Can you recommend an app with the following characteristics?
- Offers both VOIP and SMS
- Trusted/established (will probably not shut down in the next couple of months)
- Possibly with a EU or Swiss number
- Possibly able to port an old number
- KYC desirable (less chances of being shut down) but not mandatory
- Payment with credit card or bank invoice is fine
- Must be possible to be installed without Google services / Play Store (although it's fine if it requires Google to work once set up).
The last point is because I want to use the VOIP number provided for activation of the Google account itself. I guess I can do some shenanigans otherwise, like 1) buying a burner SIM, 2) using it to create a Google account, 3) Install the app and getting the new VOIP number, 4) change the phone number of my Google account. But I would rather avoid if possible.
Thanks!