These days, most websites and apps require too much personal information when registering. For example, to register on social networks or messengers, you have to provide a personal mobile number that will receive a text code to confirm your identity, otherwise, it is not possible to register. Of course, this feature helps big companies avoid botfishing and spamming on their platforms, but what about ordinary users? It can pose a threat to users’ privacy. It is for this reason that many of us wonder how not to disclose our personal details, such as our personal phone number but use the right site.
One way to bypass the SMS verification stage is to use temporary phone numbers. We will cover this in more detail later in this article.
What is a Temporary Mobile Number for receiving SMS?
A temporary mobile number for receiving SMS is a temporary cellular number that looks the same as the number on a SIM card. The only difference is that it only works over the Internet and has a number of limitations. Such phone numbers can only be used to receive one-time SMS confirmation codes.
Often such numbers are provided by specialized online platforms. They usually have a limited validity period (e.g. a few minutes or a few days) and a limit on the number of messages received. Once the number expires, it becomes inaccessible and is removed from the database.
Temporary SMS receiving numbers offer a number of benefits, here are some of them:
- Increased privacy: The use of temporary mobile numbers allows the user to remain anonymous when registering on websites and applications without revealing their personal details such as their phone number.
- Getting rid of spam: The type of these numbers allows you to keep your personal mobile number private and avoid receiving spam and unwanted messages from scammers. It will not only save your time but also your nerve cells.
- Accessibility and flexibility of use: now you don’t need to have a physical SIM card, and you don’t need to rearrange them in your smartphone. All received temporary numbers are stored in the cloud, and you can access them from any device with a simple browser.
- No geographical reference: the service is available for use in any country, the only requirement is the availability of the Internet.
- Money saving: Using temporary numbers is a more economical way of receiving SMS than buying an extra SIM card or paying for extra services from your service provider.
However, be aware that some services may block temporary numbers, and it may be difficult to regain access to your account if you cannot receive text messages to your real number.
What are some disadvantages of this option?
Here are some disadvantages of temporary text messaging phone numbers:
1. Short-term – they are usually only valid for a short time, usually a few hours or days. After that time, the number stops working, and you’ll have to find another number if you want to continue using the service.
2. Blockability – Some services may block them, preventing you from using them. This may be due to suspicion that the number is being used for activities that do not comply with the terms and conditions of the service. But this happens quite rarely, as it is impossible to distinguish them from the real ones.
3. Limited functionality – This number is usually only available for receiving text messages.
Instructions for obtaining a temporary phone number service
Find a site that offers temporary numbers for SMS activate services. You can do this by using the SMS-man platform. About 150 countries and 1,000+ services are available for activation on this site. This is not the end of the pluses. There is round-the-clock technical support, which can help with any arising problem.
To use the temporary SMS number service using SMS-man, follow the steps below:
- Register on the sms-man.com site and top up your account in the special section.
- Then, select the country from which you want to receive a temporary SMS number.
- Select the service from which you want to receive an SMS message and enter the “Buy” button.
- After that, the number will be added to your personal cabinet, from where you can copy it and start using it.
- Enter the phone number in the selected service and expect to receive SMS messages.
- When the code has been sent, return to your profile on SMS-man and click “Get SMS.”
