---
title: "How do I get a local phone number in another country without a SIM card?"
topic: "Phone Numbers"
updated: 2026-07-09
canonical: https://acrobits.net/resources/knowledge-base/how-do-i-get-a-local-phone-number-in-another-country-without/
summary: "Get a local phone number in another country by buying a virtual DID (Direct Inward Dialing) number from a VoIP provider that sells numbers in that country, then registering it in Groundwire on your phone. Delivered over VoIP, the number rings on your iPhone or Android whenever someone dials it, with no foreign SIM card, no roaming charges, and no second device. There is no SIM to swap and no roaming; the call travels as internet traffic."
---

# How do I get a local phone number in another country without a SIM card?

> Get a local phone number in another country by buying a virtual DID (Direct Inward Dialing) number from a VoIP provider that sells numbers in that country, then registering it in Groundwire on your phone. Delivered over VoIP, the number rings on your iPhone or Android whenever someone dials it, with no foreign SIM card, no roaming charges, and no second device. There is no SIM to swap and no roaming; the call travels as internet traffic.

Get a local phone number in another country by buying a virtual **[DID (Direct Inward Dialing) number](/voip-glossary/did/)** from a VoIP provider that sells numbers in that country, then registering it in **Groundwire** on your phone. Delivered over VoIP, the number rings on your iPhone or Android whenever someone dials it, with no foreign SIM card, no roaming charges, and no second device. There is no SIM to swap and no roaming; the call travels as internet traffic.

## what is a virtual local number?

A **DID number** is a real, dialable phone number assigned to you by a VoIP provider in the target country. When someone dials it, the call travels over the internet to whatever [SIP client](/voip-glossary/sip/) you have registered, including **Groundwire** on your phone. From the caller's perspective it looks and behaves exactly like a local number. From your side, it rings like any other call, over Wi-Fi or LTE wherever your phone has a data connection.

## step 1: pick a VoIP provider with numbers in your target country

You need a provider that sells DIDs in the specific country you want coverage in. Many providers let you buy and port numbers through a self-serve portal. Look for these criteria:

  - Country coverage matches your target market

  - Provides standard SIP credentials (server, username, and password) that Groundwire uses directly

  - Offers inbound-only or inbound + outbound plans depending on your needs

ProviderNotable Country CoverageNotes

**VoIP.ms**US, Canada, UK, Australia, and 60+ countriesPay-as-you-go; popular with individuals and SMBs
**Telnyx**US, UK, EU, APAC, 140+ countriesDeveloper-friendly; competitive per-minute rates
**Twilio**US, UK, EU, AU, 100+ countriesBroad coverage; higher baseline cost
**Vonage (API)**US, UK, EU, and select APACGood for programmatic use; standard SIP supported
**DIDWW**100+ countries including harder-to-reach marketsWholesale-friendly; strong European coverage

After signing up, purchase a DID number in the country you need. The provider will give you a **SIP server hostname**, a **username**, and a **password**. Keep these. You will enter them into Groundwire in the next step.

## step 2: add the SIP account to Groundwire

**[Groundwire](/sip-client-ios-android/)** is a SIP softphone for iOS and Android. It connects directly to any standard SIP provider, so it works with every provider listed above without any middleware.

  - Open Groundwire → **Settings → Accounts → Add Account**

  - Select **Generic SIP** (or use the provider-specific template if available)

  - Enter the **SIP server**, **username**, and **password** from your VoIP provider

  - Save. Groundwire registers with the provider, and your number is ready to receive calls

Incoming calls to your foreign DID ring in Groundwire even when the app is in the background, because [SIPIS](/voip-glossary/sipis/), Acrobits' push infrastructure (in operation since 2009), keeps calls ringing without draining the battery. You will see your local number as the caller ID when dialing out through that account.

## step 3: add more countries if you need them

Groundwire supports **multiple SIP accounts simultaneously**. If you need a UK number, a US number, and a German number, you can register all three at once. Each account can be assigned its own caller ID and call-handling rules. Incoming calls from any account ring on the same device. The number of accounts is limited only by what your provider allows.

This is particularly useful for small businesses serving clients in multiple markets, or for expats who maintain ties in more than one country.

## what about outbound calls?

Most DID providers also support outbound calling through the same SIP account. When you dial out via Groundwire using that account, the recipient sees your local DID as the caller ID, not your mobile number and not an unknown number. Outbound rates are often lower than standard international mobile rates, depending on the provider and destination.

## does it work on any data connection?

Yes. Groundwire routes calls over **Wi-Fi or cellular data (LTE/5G)**. No special network is required. The connection that matters is between your phone and the VoIP provider's servers, both of which are internet-connected. Standard SIP traffic uses relatively little bandwidth, so it can work over LTE or Wi-Fi when the connection is stable.

There are no roaming charges because you are not using the voice channel of your SIM at all.

## summary: get a local number without a SIM card

  - **Choose a VoIP provider** with DIDs in your target country (VoIP.ms, Telnyx, Twilio, DIDWW, Vonage)

  - **Purchase a DID number**, then get the SIP credentials from your provider dashboard

  - **Add the account in Groundwire**: Settings → Accounts → Add Account → Generic SIP

  - **Repeat for additional countries**: Groundwire handles multiple accounts at once

The setup is usually quick once you have your SIP credentials. Once registered, calls to your local foreign number ring directly on your phone over your existing data connection, with no SIM swap, no roaming, and no extra hardware.

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