Need to carry two phone numbers, would like to carry only one device

veneto said:

I need to keep an old phone number; be able to receive phone calls, vm and texts, but need to get a new 973 number; also for phone calls,, vm and texts.   i'd like to carry only one device.  my existing Iphone is with verizon.  my limited research into dual sim card phones tells me only AT&T and TMobile can support such devices - if that's the answer.  someone suggested to me, call forwarding.

I have to figure a lot of other people have faced this also.

As long as you own both phone numbers you should be able to have them ring on the same phone. Call Verizon and ask. Many who work with me have two accounts (work and personal) merged into a single iphone. 

Isn't there a way to do call forwarding?  where when the call comes in on the old number it forwards to the new number?

Port the old number to Google Voice (one time fee of $20) and add it to your new phone.

Or get a new google voice number in the 973 area code and have that forward to your phone with your current number.

Do you think if I get a new 973 number with google voice I can receive texts sent to that new number, by forwarding that to my old phone?

My business partner had the same question with her AT&T iPhone 6.  Both Apple and AT&T said she could not have 2 numbers on one phone.  

She ended up buying another iPhone and now forwards all text messages and calls to one number.  If she needs to make a call, and does not want her number to be visible, she turns off 'Show My Caller I'd' (settings ---> phone---> show my caller id)

 Pain in the butt? Yes, but it sloves carrying multiple phones

veneto said:

Do you think if I get a new 973 number with google voice I can receive texts sent to that new number, by forwarding that to my old phone?

 Yes. I do this.

+1 for google voice.  Alternately there a lots of grey market "Dual SIM' phones on amazon.com  I have no personal experience with them, but in theory they can run two numbers on the same handset.  

veneto said:

Do you think if I get a new 973 number with google voice I can receive texts sent to that new number, by forwarding that to my old phone?

To clarify, you don't "forward" your texts or calls. You set up your mobile phone (and other phones if you wish) under your google voice number. For mobile phones, you also have the option of having your texts go to that phone as well. It's actually pretty straightforward and easy to use. 

You can also have your voicemails transcribed and sent to you via email with the voice recording attached as well. 

And you can use google hangouts for texting if you want so that your texts from the two phone numbers are separate.

Thank you very much ParticleMan.  Sounds like Google voice is the answer.  I got my new number this morning.

Thanks again,

Rich