Sideline: 2nd Phone Number

Category

Description of App

Sideline™ is the free 2nd number for your smartphone. It uses your existing carrier network and minutes so your 2nd number works anywhere your cell phone does. Since Sideline provides carrier reliability, it’s the go-to phone solution for small businesses, entrepreneurs, freelancers, or anyone who needs a 2nd phone line for privacy. You can finally stop using your cell number for work and keep your personal number private.

GET A FREE NUMBER IN YOUR AREA CODE
Select a local area code and get a number that works wherever you do. You get to talk and text from a 2nd phone line—and because it’s a real number, you can call or text anyone.

CARRIER RELIABILITY
Sideline works with your carrier network to give you the same great quality and reliability you get from your regular cell number. This also lets you share your calling minutes (which are probably unlimited) between two numbers. Compared to “cloud-based,” “virtual,” or “VoIP” phone systems, Sideline uses a minimal amount of data for general functionality.

CALLING & TEXTING
Your second number is just like your first. Separate caller IDs, notifications, and ringtones make it clear who’s contacting you. For outbound communication, just open Sideline. With your free phone number, you get unlimited texting and Sideline calling uses the carrier plan you already have. *Support for Hawaii and Alaska coming soon.

KEEP YOUR PERSONAL NUMBER PRIVATE
You shouldn’t give your personal number to everyone—that’s why there’s Sideline. But it’s not just a 2nd line for work. It can be your temporary number. Your anonymous number. Your business number. Your disposable number. Your fake phone number. It’s whatever you need it to be to protect your primary cell number.

VOICEMAIL FORWARDING
On nights, weekends, or holidays, you can always silence your Sideline and send callers directly to voicemail.

SIDELINE SUBSCRIPTION: $2.99/ month
Subscribing removes ads, enables Wi-Fi calling, and prevents your number from expiring (we reclaim inactive numbers from non-subscribers after 30 days). Wi-Fi calling lets you toggle between networks in case you have a weaker carrier signal. Look for more features to come!

Sideline subscriptions are automatically billed monthly to your iTunes Account. The $2.99 auto-renewals get charged within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. You can turn off auto-renew in your account settings. Unfortunately, cancellations aren't allowed during active subscription periods. If you don’t want to pay for Sideline, you can simply continue using it for free.

See our privacy policy and terms of use (they make a great bedtime story).

ABOUT DATA & INTERNET USAGE:
Even though Sideline uses your carrier network for calling, data and Internet connectivity are still required for general functionality. “Using your carrier network” instead of VoIP simply makes your call quality more reliable. We understand that phrase may imply Sideline doesn’t use any data or Internet. Unfortunately most apps need an Internet connection to work properly.

Version

1.15

Free or Paid

Free

Apple Watch Support

No

Device(s) App Was Tested On

iPhone

iOS Version

9.32

Accessibility Comments

There are several buttons that are not labeled. When you need to delete something the delete button is not announced when you are on the actions part of the router but there is only 2 options either activate the item or delete. You can just swipe down from the activate item and double tap and a alert will appear asking if you would like to delete this item and you choose cancel or ok. So it is easy to figure out. I also have noticed that you cannot view the history of your messages. It is listed there but VO does not read them so you cannot see your message history. I don't see how to delete the call history. If you tap to activate it it just tells you the number but if you swipe to the unvoiced button it will ask if you want to block the person from contacting you so I guess you can't delete the call history.

VoiceOver Performance

VoiceOver reads most page elements.

Button Labeling

Most buttons are clearly labeled.

Usability

There are some accessibility issues with this app, but it can still be used if you are willing to tolerate these issues and learn how to work around them.

Other Comments

This app is great for those who want to keep their numbers private or those who may need another phone number for business purposes but don't want to buy another phone. This second line can be used as a business phone number. You can choose what phone number you would like to have by area code or you can choose the area code of your choice. The app is primarily free but they do offer a paid version for $2.99 a month with benefits that you don't get with the free version like no ads.

Developer's Twitter Username

@sidelinenumber

Recommendations

2 people have recommended this app

Most recently recommended by Blaque Diamond 6 years 7 months ago

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Comments

By Diamond tears on Friday, July 22, 2016 - 04:14

Does anyone know if there is an app similar to this in the uk? Cheers

By dannyboy on Monday, August 22, 2016 - 04:14

When at the list of numbers that called me, I can double tap on a number to get to that message, or flick down once, and double tap and I can then block that party. But how may one delete a number?

By dannyboy on Monday, August 22, 2016 - 04:14

Because of the unlabeled buttons, I wrote feedback to the company, letting them know I would buy a subscription if the buttons and all options could be made accessible one day. I got back a message by e-mail that it would be looked into. I hope all users of Sideline would write feedback, letting the company know of what can be done to make this program yet better.

By JoshNyc on Monday, August 22, 2016 - 04:14

Is anyone able to read their text conversations within this app? On my list of conversations, I can see the most recent message from each conversation listed, but when I open the conversation itself the messages are not accessible with Voiceover.