Talk & Text Hub: A VoIP App That Gives You a Second Phone Number Without a Second Phone or SIM

For years, getting a second phone number meant changing something physical. People bought a second handset, switched to a dual-SIM phone, or swapped SIM cards in and out of the same device. Even eSIMs, which removed the plastic card, still require a compatible phone and a mobile network profile.

GigHub System Inc. today launched Talk & Text Hub, a VoIP app that skips all of that. Users install the app on the phone they already have, buy a United States or United Kingdom number inside it, and the number is allocated instantly. From then on, they can make and receive calls and texts through the app over Wi-Fi or mobile data. The app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Four ways to get a second number, compared

People who need a second number today usually choose between four options.

• A second phone. This is the simplest idea but the least practical. It means buying, charging and carrying another device.
• A dual-SIM phone. This needs a phone with two SIM slots and a second mobile plan, usually from a local network.
• An eSIM. This avoids a physical card, but the phone must support eSIM, and the user still needs to download and set up a network profile.
• A VoIP number. This is the approach Talk & Text Hub takes. The number lives in an app, so it works on the phone you already own, with any SIM or none at all, as long as there is an internet connection.

Each option has its place. For people who want a second number quickly, for a set period, without changing their phone or mobile plan, a VoIP number is often the easiest choice.

How a VoIP number works

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. It sends your voice and messages over the internet instead of a mobile network's SIM line. A VoIP number, also called a virtual number, is a real phone number that is linked to your account in the app.

People can call and text a Talk & Text Hub number like any other number. From the app, users can call real mobile and landline numbers, not only other app users. Calls between Talk & Text Hub users in the app are free, and international calling is available to supported destinations depending on the plan.

Setting it up takes three steps:

1. Install Talk & Text Hub from the App Store or Google Play.
2. Buy a US or UK number in the app. It is allocated instantly.
3. Use it to call and text over Wi-Fi or mobile data.

Who it helps

A second number without a second phone suits people whose needs change from week to week.

• Travelers heading to the USA or UK can set up a local number before they leave, instead of looking for a SIM shop at the airport.
• Freelancers and remote workers can give overseas clients a familiar US or UK number to call and text, while answering on their everyday phone.
• Small business owners can add a business line in minutes, without hardware or a phone contract.
• Online sellers can use a separate number for buyer calls and messages about orders and pickups.
• Students and new expats can use a local number from their first day while they settle in.
• Anyone who prefers to keep their main number for close contacts can use a Talk & Text Hub number for bookings, signups and new contacts.

Three simple ways to buy

There are no contracts. Users buy what they need inside the app:

• Number only: a US or UK number for 7, 15, 30 or 90 days.
• Number + Credit: a number together with a calling credit pack.
• Credit Top-Up: more calling credit for a number already in the app.

A US number starts at $1.99 for 7 days, and a UK number at $2.49 for 7 days. US calling credit packs start at $2.99 for 60 minutes. For heavier use, unlimited US and Canada packs and unlimited UK packs are available for 30 or 90 days.

Short validity periods make it practical to buy a number for a single trip, a month-long project or a short campaign, and let it expire afterwards.

What users need

Talk & Text Hub needs only two things: a smartphone that can run the app, and an internet connection through Wi-Fi or mobile data. Calls and texts over mobile data use the user's existing data allowance, so Wi-Fi is often the better choice when travelling.

Everything is managed in one place. Users can see each number they hold, how long it is valid, their calls and messages, and their remaining credit. Several numbers can sit side by side, so a user could keep a UK number for work and a US number for a trip.

A second number that fits in the phone you have

Talk & Text Hub launches with US and UK numbers. Its goal is simple: make adding a phone number as easy as installing an app, with nothing extra to buy, carry or set up.

More information is available at talkandtexthub.com.

About Talk & Text Hub

Talk & Text Hub is a virtual number and VoIP communication app published by GigHub System Inc. Users can buy US and UK numbers inside the app, get them allocated instantly, and make and receive calls and texts over Wi-Fi or mobile data without a physical SIM or eSIM. Plans are sold as Number only, Number + Credit and Credit Top-Up. Talk & Text Hub is available on iOS and Android.

GigHub System Inc. is a privately held technology company headquartered in Berkeley, California. Founded in 2018, it has a team of about 50 people across the USA, Italy, India, South Korea and Singapore.