Getting a phone number for the GCD
Alexandros Diamantidis
As the new Treasurer, I've been working with Don to get a new business
account at PayPal for our use. We are at the stage where I've opened a
new PayPal account as trea...@comics.org, but we now have to submit
our business information as a first stage to being verified as a
non-profit. One of the required fields asks for our business phone
number and we can't proceed without providing one.
Instead of providing a personal phone number belonging to one of the
Board members, my thought was to get a US-based virtual / VoIP number
which can be set up and used by any GCD members authorized for this.
I remember us talking about getting a virtual phone number, for instance
via Google Voice, but I don't think we ever implemented that, right?
I see that Google Voice provides a free phone number for individuals
based in the US, but this isn't available for non-profits in Google
Workspace - in this case it costs $10 per user per month. I don't think
it's a good idea to use a phone number under a personal Google account,
we should get a number that unambiguously belongs to the GCD as an
organization.
Apart from Google Voice, there are many other VoIP providers, and while
the usual cost for a US-based number is similar to the Google one (eg.
about 120 USD / year), some are cheaper. In a Reddit discussion I found
a recommendation for this one which costs $0.85 per month for an
inbound US number: https://voip.ms/pricing - looking around, I see some
people reporting instability and some problems at times, but I don't see
any major red flags, even by people reporting to use them for a
business. They also ask for a phone number, but I think we can provide a
personal phone number there, and update it whenever needed.
Any opinions or other ideas? I think we can go with voip.ms and if
everyone agrees, I'll make a motion to sign up for a basic business
account there, accessible to the Chairman and Treasurer, to be used
for our PayPal account and wherever else we need to provide a business
phone number.
Alexandros
sangorshop
I get, the more I understand that there are plenty of things I don;t
have to understand.
So I'll listen (and vote) to those who do know more.
I would be tempted to just have someone in the USA get a burner phone
to acquire a temp number changing when we need to. I've not had any
problem
in changing my personal paypal phone number, and have been on boards
where the paypal phone number and address moved with the treasurer.
I, and they, never got
a phone call from paypal. Which is not to say one won't.
On the other hand, maybe we need a voip number and cell service for
other things.
I will assume we have enough time to discuss and vote on this proposed
motion, and that the account isn't sitting and pending at paypal.
Steven Rowe
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Alexandros Diamantidis
need to provide a phone number to proceed with the next steps. This
doesn't cause us any immediate problems, but of course we'd like to
proceed sooner rather than later with a proper business account.
A VoIP number looks like a normal phone number that anyone can call from
their phone, but it terminates to an internet-connected device. So, you
can install an app in your PC or smartphone and receive and make calls
from it wherever you might be located. People calling the number don't
need to do anything special.
A phone held by somebody in the USA would be another way to go - is
anybody here willing to provide a phone number to use for this?
In fact, we could probably give them a number outside the USA, too, but
given that we're incorporated in the USA it seemed to me more proper
to go with a US-based number. In this case, as you said, we'd change the
phone number in our new PayPal account as needed instead of transferring
use of the number.
So, don't worry - I wouldn't say I know more. In fact, I might be
overcomplicating things!
Thanks,
Alexandros
* sangorshop [2025-01-11 08:40]:
--
Alexandros Diamantidis * ad...@hellug.gr
Donald Dale Milne
know what is involved with that. I do know that I have no cell phone
and no need or intention of getting one. So personally, answering a
voip call via my computer (if we ever received one) would work better.
- Don Milne
Jochen G.
differently, what can one use for two-factor authentication with a
potentially shared account ?
Jochen
Am 11.01.25 um 19:35 schrieb Alexandros Diamantidis:
Alexandros Diamantidis
which generates 6-digit codes valid for a short time. Those can be
potentially cloned, since most of those apps allow you to backup the
seed and restore it to another app. This doesn't tie to the phone number
on record.
Frankly, I think the phone number we enter will most likely remain
unused, but I wanted to enter a real US-based phone number just to be
safe - maybe just being overly cautious, but since this is essentially a
second banking account, I thought being extra cautious was warranted.
It doesn't need to be a mobile number.
Alexandros
* 'Jochen G.' via gcd-board [2025-01-11 19:13]:
sangorshop
so I read them online.
Alexxandros, how much does the VOIP cost? If cheap enough, I might
donate money now, so we can buy it, and vote later.
As it sounds like we need to do this prior to the amount of time a
discussion and vote takes.
Don: A burner phone is a nickname for a pre-paid phone. My research
tells me one would need a phone and a pre-paid card (about $40 total)
to do that. Yes, a VOIP would be more convenient.
Alexandros: After reading your clear description, I am amused to see
that my home phone uses that (phone with closed caption. with
connection by my cable internet company).
Steven Rowe
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Donald Dale Milne
Matthew Gore
I move we acquire a dedicated telephone number to be used by the GCD.
Matthew H. Gore
Member: ACP, IAPP
Editor, Cumberland Presbyterian Magazine
Publications Manager, Ministry Council
8207 Traditional Place
Cordova (Memphis), Tennessee 38016-7414
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Ramon Schenk
Seconded.
Ramon
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Donald Dale Milne
- Don Milne
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Donald Dale Milne
- Don Milne
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Alexandros Diamantidis
Right, the required credentials can be shared with authorized persons, and they would be able to call and receive calls from their devices.
If we go with Google Voice, they have an Android and an iOS app
and you can also use the service from a web browser:
https://support.google.com/voice/answer/3379129
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.googlevoice&hl=en_US
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/google-voice/id318698524
They also have an extension for Chrome, which might provide a notification if we receive a call, I'm not sure though...
https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/google-voice-by-google/kcnhkahnjcbndmmehfkdnkjomaanaooo
If we go with voip.ms, they use a standard protocol for internet telephony, SIP, so there are various apps for computers or smartphones which can make or receive calls:
https://wiki.voip.ms/article/Getting_Started
By the way, I'd like to suggest a friendly amendment to the motion - since there certainly will be some costs associated with getting a number as a business, either $10 / year from Google or $0.85 / month plus some low extra fees from voip.ms, we could authorize up to $140 per year for phone charges without a further motion.
I.e. amend the motion to state that "we acquire a dedicated telephone number to be used by the GCD and authorized paying the associated fees for the telephone service up to 140 USD / year".
Maybe we could also select one of the options I suggested in our,
or leave it as an implementation detail? I'd rather use an
independent company and not go with Google, both for the lower
cost and to allow us to manage the number independently which
seems more flexible...
By the way, I also personally use a VoIP number independent of a landline - I transferred my parent's number after their passing to a local provider (https://www.modulus.gr/en/) and it's been working fine for years, but getting a US number from them costs 128 EUR / year which seems a bit on the high side (my Greek number costs 15 EUR / year).
Alexandros
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Matthew Gore
I rather imagined we would use something like Google Voice to let a designated person (or persons) answer or place calls on their cell phones or computers. Seems like it’s less than $20 a month for up to 10 hours of conversation. Last time I played with it, it was free but it isn’t anymore.
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Donald Dale Milne
- Don Milne
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Alexandros Diamantidis
month for organizations. Calls are free within the US if I'm not
mistaken.
* 'Matthew Gore' via gcd-board [2025-01-17 17:52]:
>
> From: gcd-...@googlegroups.com On Behalf Of Donald Dale Milne
> Sent: Friday, January 17, 2025 9:34 AM
> To: gcd-...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: Re: [gcd-board] Getting a phone number for the GCD
>
> I want to make sure how this would work, even though we would probably place and receive almost no calls. With VOIP, a call TO our number would come in to an internet-based account that any of several authorized persons could answer? To place a call out, one would open an app and follow instructions, using your computer's microphone and speaker? To receive a call, would it trigger a "ring" on the app, which you would then answer by following instructions on the computer?
>
> - Don Milne
>
> On 1/17/2025 10:22 AM, Donald Dale Milne wrote:
> Motion and second recognized (sorry for the delay). Is there further discussion?
>
> - Don Milne
>
> On 1/14/2025 12:04 PM, Ramon Schenk wrote:
>
> Seconded.
>
> Ramon
>
>
>
> Member: ACP, IAPP
> Editor, Cumberland Presbyterian Magazine
> Publications Manager, Ministry Council
> Cordova (Memphis), Tennessee 38016-7414<https://www.google.com/maps/search/8207+Traditional+Place+%0D%0A+Cordova+(Memphis),+Tennessee+38016-7414?entry=gmail&source=g>
>
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Ramon Schenk
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Donald Dale Milne
- Don Milne
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Matthew Gore
No objection.
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Donald Dale Milne
- Don Milne
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Scott Novick
Seconded.
Ramon
Matthew H. Gore
Member: ACP, IAPP
Editor, Cumberland Presbyterian Magazine
Publications Manager, Ministry Council
Cordova (Memphis), Tennessee 38016-7414
Subscribe Online: https://www.cumberland.org/resources/#!/Cumberland-Presbyterian-Magazine-1-YEAR-SUBSCRIPTION/p/54529101/category=14460471
From: gcd-...@googlegroups.com On Behalf Of Donald Dale Milne
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Donald Dale Milne
- Don Milne
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Darrel McCann
Donald Dale Milne
- Don Milne
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sangorshop
If any board member does not get one, let us know.
Steven Rowe
sangorshop
Only "abstain" is the only option.
I'll see about redoing it, and sending another ballot.
Steven