How to handle Australian phone while overseas for six months

[VPS]

I'm going to be away for six months and I'm looking for some innovative ideas to forward calls and texts for minimal charge. I will put a voicemail message saying I'm not going to listen to messages but send me a text but I'm sure somebody will. The alternative is just to put the SIM into an old phone and check it once a week or so

 

[opusman]

You can get a VOIP number from someone like MyNetFone, which lets you set up voicemail to be emailed to you. Then divert the mobile to that number before you leave Australia.

 

[TasmanFlyer]

I alternate a month in Australia & a month in NZ. I have both an AU & NZ VoIP provider with a VoIP phone in each home / each country. I've then setup my mobile in each country to "divert when off" to the local landline number.
Took a bit to get setup initially, but works flawlessly. And I don't have to do anything when I leave/arrive.

 

[opusman]

Diverting texts is harder. The phone networks don't support this - the only way to do it is to actually leave a phone with your SIM in it at home and run software on it to forward any texts to your overseas number or via email.

Or get a cheap second phone and take it with you to use for SIM receiving.

 

[moa999]

Ot a dual SIM Android with voice calls on always divert (not quite as best as divert when off)

 

[opusman]

Ot a dual SIM Android with voice calls on always divert (not quite as best as divert when off)

If you set it to divert immediate before leaving the country (**21*) it should be the same. The key is to stop the network sending the call overseas, since you'll get charged for the diversion there and back.

 

[VPS]

Think the easiest is an old phone with my Aussie SIM in it - thanks for the suggestions

 

[Mal]

I have an Optus Sim and a UK based sim. Dual sim phone, both in. Calls to Optus are diverted to Voicemail, you can collect the messages on a different phone (VOIP/calling card etc). As it's always with me, I get messages immediately etc.