Swiss VOIP number with SMS capabilities?

Life Hacking
1

I am trying to set up a 2nd phone number for work, on a Android mobile device which does not have SIM/eSIM, only WiFi. I am having difficulties figuring out a way to obtain a Swiss (+41) mobile number which is able to place and receive voice calls AND to send/receive SMS.

I used Linphone with Telnyx for example, which is super cheap but quite complex to set up. Voice calls work nicely, but no SMS option for Swiss numbers. I can live without the option of sending SMS but I want at least to be able to receive them.

Any ideas?

I am resident in Zurich FWIW.

2

I dimly remember this being a thing. It was turned off in 2018.
According to this news article from then, ecall.ch has that functionality.
Swisscom: eCall rettet die Festnetz-SMS | Nau.ch

But I am not sure if it still works.

3

Have you checked peoplefone.ch already?

4

I didn’t know peoplefone yet, I will check, thanks. But just to understand how it works: do they offer an app which you can use to do voice calls and send/receive SMS with the same virtual Swiss number?

5

Please post back a summary. Every time I read about peoplephone I check their site and get depressed for the lack of plain and simple pages to read. Confusopoly

6

They offer an app but their website is really not clear so you would have to contact them and ask. I use their sip trunk offer for pbx but that’s definitely not what you want.

7

I noticed Skype changed and they only allow Subscription instead of their top up option. I don’t need a SMS function or being able to receive calls, however, I used Skype frequently to call 084 numbers in Switzerland like Customer Service/Health insurances and international calls. Any recommendations for an alternative VOIP with good prices?

I noticed people recommend Zoom phone pay as you go model or KeepCalling.

@mods. feel free to move this post. I noticed several topics about VOIP. As mentioned I am not interested in SMS capabilities, merely calling others.