patrick.net

@komputodo There are free services that offer a way to get a text to a fake number.

Sadly, may of those fake numbers are rejected by such services.

Example: https://smsreceivefree.com/

It's a shame you mentioned "For Business" or I would tell you to just tell them to go pound sand and continue on with your life.
I can tell you as someone who was so excited about every new technology that came in out in the Windows environment, and the hardware for the Wintel architecture.
The modern day computing is more about giving the end user limited information while scouring and gleaning every last private detail from the end user before they even have access to the most basic information. I'm so disgusted at this point, I have shun all of my Computing passions. I am now immersed in buying meters, gear, and electronic components, and have taken to repairing my vintage Synths, and old tube amps that has fallen in disrepair over the years.
I'm into electronics and electricity, and even though I'm dealing with obsolete equipment, and I might not find suitable parts. At least there aren't any defunct websites, and antiquated Computer drivers I have to worry about .At least with electronic obsolescence I can build a a pcb circuit to bypass the antiquated circuits that may have failed.

I expected to be a programmer until I was 80, or I expected technology to outgrow me. I never expected that I would outgrow technology. Which is what has happened, just 99% of the people don't realize it.
Even our smart phones, there's not a phone made today that could hold a candle to Samsung's S models from S3 to S6 then it all went to shit.
Off to find optocouplers.

Uh! Sorry I gut nothing!

I would be a bit leery of the services that rent you a phone number if it was for something important like banking. Assume they can read the text. Especially the free ones. But it does seem like a service that will be needed for a long time, so some companies must be approaching this service with quality and integrity so they hold their customers and reputation.

You could also just buy an extra phone w/ a cheap plan. A usa plan may not work in MX via cell towers, but if you just need text messages, that will probably work via wifi from anywhere so long as you dont need to read images via text (images oddly sometimes require a cell tower connection). I'm pretty sure I've seen basic MVNO plans for like $5-10 a mo, and you can prob get a phone for $30-50.

I think the best way would be to get yourself an obama phone tho lol

I have a Republic Wireless phone.
I defaults to wifi and works normally when I'm in the Mexico house (or anyplace with wifi)
My bill is $23/month, they have even cheaper plans.
I'm using a Telcel Mexican phone outside of the house.
I really like Republic Wireless.
Edit: Republic Wireless doesn't distinguish where I am located if I am within WiFi range. It works exactly the same as in the USA anywhere in the world.

Is there anything Google Voice can do? I haven't looked into that for a loooooong time.

SunnyvaleCA says

Is there anything Google Voice can do? I haven't looked into that for a loooooong time.

No. I just looked at it. You need a US based cell or landline. Might not even be a landline option for that.

I'm just surprised a service that needs a US based phone number to text you, and cannot do business outside of the states. Not sure if komputodo is going to pay this service, but why should he have to work around it and figure it out? If an expat in MX is looking to use your service, imagine how many others there are across the globe.

I never even thought of this as an issue. It's interesting, but way above my knowledge of tech. It sounds like you're going to need a cheap phone and plan as others have mentioned. And who knows if that will work coming from Mexican towers or going into Mexico data wise. I'd call or chat with the service and see if there's an email option. If you're paying for something they provide I'm sure they can figure it out without doing the text bull shit.

clambo says

I have a Republic Wireless phone.
I defaults to wifi and works normally when I'm in the Mexico house (or anyplace with wifi)
My bill is $23/month, they have even cheaper plans.
I'm using a Telcel Mexican phone outside of the house.
I really like Republic Wireless.
Edit: Republic Wireless doesn't distinguish where I am located if I am within WiFi range. It works exactly the same as in the USA anywhere in the world.

And it has a USA area code? Have you recieved text from banks and places like Paypal to verify your accounts while in mexico?

Take a look at Callcentric.

I had Republic Wireless since 2014, but once Comcast bought them, their service has gone to shit. I had to replace both my phone (because they were sunsetting CDMA) and my wife's phone (RW pushed an update on her phone that essentially bricked it).

I'd suggest Hello Mobile - they're a reseller of T-Mobile/Sprint. Their cheapest plan is $5 for 0.5 GB 4G cellular with unlimited talk & text, but you can use wifi to conserve cellular minutes. They include free international calling to most western countries. They let you bring your own phone (you need to check if it's compatible with their network), so if you can find a cheap compatible dumb phone then you're all set. HM service is essentially a bunch of Indians reading off troubleshooting scripts, and there are occasional network glitches, but I can't argue about the price.

My Republic phone has a USA area code, 831.
It works anywhere there is WiFi.
I just used it yesterday to set up a new iPhone for Mexico use. Apple sent a text to get authentication.
I use it for 2 step authentication for my Vanguard or T.Rowe Price.
I got my Republic phone when I had a Santa Cruz address, not a Mexico address.

clambo says

My Republic phone has a USA area code, 831.
It works anywhere there is WiFi.
I just used it yesterday to set up a new iPhone for Mexico use. Apple sent a text to get authentication.
I use it for 2 step authentication for my Vanguard or T.Rowe Price.
I got my Republic phone when I had a Santa Cruz address, not a Mexico address.

being that we are both expats in mex , is there any way i could PM you or use whatsapp?