[iamthepieman]

I love that I can't sign up for Azure services because i need a "real" phone number and no, VOIP numbers like google voice, Microsoft's own Skype or even my actually land line (which is through my ISP and apparently classified as VOIP) won't work.

I don't have a mobile phone so that's fine, I can get texts on Google Hangouts or Skype but their account software refuses to send the verification texts to those numbers.

Fortunately there's an option to have them call you but they refuse to send call my home phone system that is registered with my name and that is a valid e911 number associated with an e911 address. A call with a Microsoft support person confirmed that nope, I can not sign up for Azure.

[Neliquat]

How dare you try to be a customer without complying to their idea of technical social norms. Shame.

/s

[j_s]

This may be enough (receive SMS without a phone) if you're desperate for Azure or other account:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13631724

[iamthepieman]

that's the problem, every site I tried failed their "is this a real phone" check including their own service and the phone that nearly any normal person, technical or otherwise would consider a "land line"

[j_s]

If that's true for this specific site I'm sure the proprietor would appreciate a heads-up!