If you’re not physically in US, getting a US phone number is not an easy matter. A US phone number marks your virtual presence in the United States, and sometimes it’s necessary for purchasing through online stores or to register for web services. Good news is that getting a free US phone number is getting easier nowadays. Here’s a few services that give out free US phone number, which allows user to receive free incoming calls, receive free incoming SMS text messages, and make outgoing calls or send outgoing SMS text messages at low fee or even free especially within US.



Google Voice

Google Voice provides a US DID phone number for its users, and is probably the most reliable service available on the Internet, been backed by Google. Google Voice allows users to choose area code and the phone number which you prefer. All calls received on Google Voice is diverted or forwarded to any other US phone number of your choice or Google Chat in Gmail for free. Users can call out to any countries at low charge, or free of charge for US and Canada from the web-based application or by dialing the Google Voice number.

Unfortunately, you will need another US phone for verification in order to register for Google Voice, as the service currently limited to residents in United States only. If you have somebody in US who can helps you to sign up, Google Voice is the ultimate choice for a free US phone number.

Visit Google Voice.

IPKall

IPKall is actually SIP VoIP service that allows user to receive free calls over the Internet from any phone, anywhere, any time. IPKall provides free Washington state phone number, which can then linked to VoIP service through SIP protocol. Thus, to use IPKall, you need a VoIP service provider which supports SIP, a SIP enabled device or softphone. Through the SIP client, users can receive unlimited free incoming calls. IPKall does not support outbound calls.

IPKall does not have geographic restriction, making it one of the favorite avenue to get free US phone number. Which means you can register for a free US phone number regardless of where you are. IPKall will terminate any account which does not have valid email address, or has been inactive for 30 days.

Visit IPKall.

Whistle

Whistle is a VoIP service which also provides a free US phone number, which choice from dozens of area code. Whistle Phone users can make ad-supported call for free to contiguous 48 US states for up to 20 minutes, or internationally at low rates. However, receiving incoming calls is not free, which is chargeable at 1 cent per minute.

Whistle Phone has client for iOS, Windows and Mac OS X, where the iOS app also double up as a SIP softphone client. Registration has to be done from within one of these apps after installation.

Download Whistle Phone.

VoxOx

VoxOx is free service that attempts to unify normal phone communications, SMS texting, instant messaging, chatting, faxing and social networking into one single software and service. Voxox provides a free personal US phone number which allocated in random once you register an account, and with small fee, you can choose your own custom phone number (but that defeats the purpose of FREE). The free US phone number can be used to forward calls to ring any and all of your phones, send and receive faxes and text messages. And it supports calls routing based on callers, and has voicemail. All inbound calls, texs and faxes is free of charge, while low cost usage fees applied for calls, texts and faxes to landlines and mobile phones.

Voxox has even more features that Google Voice. As it’s relatively new, the question is whether the service can last. Nonetheless, Voxox has client program for Windows and Mac OS X for free calls between Voxox clients. VoxOx client for iOS (iPhone, iPad and iPod touch) meanwhile serves as callback app, which trigger a callback to your phone to establish phone calls.

Sign p for VoxOx. You will need a mobile phone (non-US is OK if the mobile carriers are supported) to receive activation code for registration.

Ring2Skype

Ring2Skype is a free service which forwards unlimited incoming calls to Skype, allowing the calls to receive on Skype client. It’s commonly used as alternative SkypeIn (known as Online Number now), but for free. Ring2Skype provides a free phone number with a private extension from over 100 locations worldwide, including many cities in United States. All calls to your extension ring at your Skype. Best of all, Ring2Skype allows more than one phone numbers to be created on single account, although the new number you get is probably only a new extension, unless you opt for different locality or area.

Check out the review of Ring2Skype and sign up for Ring2Skype.

TextFree with Voice

If you have you iPhone, iPod touch or iPad, you can get a free US mobile phone number via TextFree. With TextFree number, users get free unlimited texting and picture messaging (MMS) from iOS devices or MMS. Calls between TextFree clients are always free, so does free incoming calls. In addition, users can earn free minutes for calling.

Install TextFree with Voice from iTunes App Store.

TextNow

TextNow provides free unlimited texting (SMS) with picture messaging (MMS) support on iOS devices. TextNow users can choose between a username or real phone number at no extra cost. Simply choose an area code and your new number will be assigned, and if you’re unsatisfied with the number, just release the number and get a new one again. Texting to any mobile in US is free. With a TextNow phone number, users can enable voice calling, call forwarding and voicemail on iPod, iPad or iPhone.

Install TextNow from iTunes App Store and read the TextNow review.

textPlus

textPlus provides dedicated textPlus phone number for texting (SMS) with support for group multi-way text. Text sent to more carriers in USA and Canada or between textPlus numbers is free. Standard message rates apply if you enable Regular Text Notifications in Account Settings.

textPlus is available for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch through iOS App Store and Android through Android Market, significantly makes available its offerings to larger audience. Do read review for textPlus.

HeyWire

If you interested to get a US phone number for texting (SMSing) only, HeyWire is the way to go. HeyWire is a app that provides unlimited free texting to any mobile phone in USA, Canada, Mexico and China, and most mobile phones in Caribbean, South and Central America. Of course, SMS between two HeyWire phone number worldwide is always free. HeyWire integrates with Facebook and IM network, and supports shortcode to tweet with Twitter.

You must have a iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android to start using HeyWire. Check out the review of Heywire. Facebook app is available but it’s not free if you don’t have a HeyWire account yet which is registered from smartphone.

Sipgate

Sipgate is a US-only SIP service which provides free phone service, free US phone number for life, voicemail and fax-out service to replace existing land line or adds a second line at no cost. The free option – Sipgate One – provides one free U.S. number for one users. You will need a SIP-client to make or receive call with Sipgate. All incoming calls are free, so do calls from Sipgate to Sipgate are for free, while low rates apply to other domestic and international calls.

To sign up for Sipgate, you probably need a proxy or VPN.