---
title: "How do I get a local phone number in another country without a SIM card?"
topic: "Phone Numbers"
updated: 2026-05-09
canonical: https://acrobits.net/resources/knowledge-base/how-do-i-get-a-local-phone-number-in-another-country-without/
summary: "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 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 you are in the world."
---

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

> 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 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 you are in the world.

Expanding your business or traveling frequently? You might need a local presence in another country. Your clients can call a local number, and it rings on your iPhone or Android — no foreign SIM card, no roaming charges, no second device. The technology that makes this possible is called a **[virtual DID (Direct Inward Dialing) number](/voip-glossary/did/)**, delivered over VoIP.

## 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 you are in the world.

There is no physical SIM involved. You are not roaming. The call is routed as internet traffic.

## 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. Most 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, password) — Groundwire uses these 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 the account shows as **online**

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

## Step 3 — Add More Countries (Optional)

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. There is no practical limit set by the app — you are bound 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, not an unknown number. Rates for outbound calls to local numbers in the target country are typically a fraction of standard international mobile rates.

## 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 minimal bandwidth; even a modest LTE signal is sufficient for clear audio.

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

## Summary: How to Get a Foreign Local Number Without a SIM

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

  - **Purchase a DID number** — 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 whole setup takes under ten minutes. Once registered, calls to your local foreign number ring directly on your phone over your existing data connection — no SIM swap, no roaming, no extra hardware.

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