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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Boyfriend has a ‘second number’ app on his phone

26 replies

Alex991 · 17/03/2025 18:04

I really need some advice here…I stayed round my boyfriend’s this weekend, and had a lovely relaxing weekend.

He has a tablet which is linked to his mobile phone. If he receives a call on his mobile, the tablet rings at the same time.

I was upstairs on the bed watching YouTube whilst he was preparing dinner downstairs and the tablet received a call. It said something like ‘Hushed Notification’ along with the number which called it. This only rang for about 10 seconds as my boyfriend must have rejected the call on his phone (not answered it as I didn’t hear him speaking).

I went downstairs a few minutes later and didn’t mention anything, neither did he - the evening just continued as usual and he wasn’t in any way ‘off’ or different with me.

I googled ‘Hushed’ earlier and have found out that it is an app which gives you a second phone number, but doesn’t appear to be free. This wasn’t installed on the tablet so I can only assume it was on my boyfriends phone.

Has anyone had experience with this app and have any suggestion why someone would have it installed? I haven’t said anything about it and we’ve been messaging as normal today.

I don’t know if I’m wrong to be suspicious? We’ve had the best relationship for the past year and things are progressing so well.

OP posts:
DenholmElliot11 · 17/03/2025 18:12

It’s basically a secret second phone then? Make of that what you will

lostintherainyday · 17/03/2025 18:14

I have a second sim because I get pestered by recruiters so much. Could it be something like that?

DarlingDay · 17/03/2025 18:17

What does he do for work? It basically gives you a second phone number. I work with people who use a similar (possibly the same) app so they don't have to give out their real phone number.

H7529 · 17/03/2025 18:21

Can it be a work thing? I work freelance and I recently got a second phone with a number I give to my clients because I don't want to give them my personal one to avoid late evening/weekend client calls.

Alex991 · 17/03/2025 18:22

He is in a management role in a corporate company (without giving too much away). I don’t think any of his team would call him on a Sunday evening and their name would be saved in his contacts.

OP posts:
Youngheartsrunfree007 · 17/03/2025 18:24

If you don’t believe it would be a work call on a Sunday evening then your best bets is to straight up ask him.

MuchasSmoochas · 17/03/2025 18:27

I have an eSIM for work and can switch. But it’s not Hushed, never heard of that.

jsku · 17/03/2025 18:30

Ask him?
There are many reasons why people would use a different phone number for privacy and anonymity. I use lots of different email addresses and don't answer calls from numbers i don’t recognise..

Alex991 · 17/03/2025 19:58

I’ve asked him and he says he doesn’t know what I am on about and he doesn’t have such app 😑

OP posts:
DenholmElliot11 · 17/03/2025 20:13

Alex991 · 17/03/2025 19:58

I’ve asked him and he says he doesn’t know what I am on about and he doesn’t have such app 😑

He's lying then 😢I think that tells you all you need to know now.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 17/03/2025 20:16

It sounds weird.

If you wanted a secret phone, you'd get another physical phone and keep it hidden somewhere.

I'm not sure how this app is really any different to having a phone with two SIM cards in it, which I have for perfectly valid reasons.

Him lying about it is a bit of a red flag though.

YesThatsATurdOnTheRug · 17/03/2025 20:31

Is it not when you have notifications set on quiet on the iPhone? I feel like I've seen something like that before..? Could have imagined that though

lostintherainyday · 17/03/2025 20:40

YesThatsATurdOnTheRug · 17/03/2025 20:31

Is it not when you have notifications set on quiet on the iPhone? I feel like I've seen something like that before..? Could have imagined that though

That would be “notifications silenced”, whereas OP was saying there was an app called “hushed” that she saw a notification from but the BF denied having that app.

TY78910 · 17/03/2025 20:44

Are you sure you saw a 'hushed' notification and not something along the lines of that phrase? You can set up focuses on your iPhone / iPad and that will minimise notifications to help you 'focus'

Alex991 · 17/03/2025 20:44

DenholmElliot11 · 17/03/2025 20:13

He's lying then 😢I think that tells you all you need to know now.

I am really confused, I know what I saw. Going to
need to wait until I see him in person to bring it up I think.

OP posts:
wishiwasjoking · 17/03/2025 21:07

It wouldn't have been a red flag if he just said he didn't like entering his phone number online - for shopping websites, for quotes for things, or anything where someone might sell his number on.

Or for verifying things - my partner works in tech and uses extra phone numbers because he needs a lot of Google accounts and they only let you sign up for so many from one phone number.

Or because he wanted a US number for some kind of media service or verification that won't accept a UK number.

But him lying to you about it is the red flag.

Gundogday · 17/03/2025 21:08

Dh used to have two numbers on his phone, one was a work number and the other private.

Aaron95 · 17/03/2025 21:37

I have a dual SIM phone. The handset belongs to work but I have a separate number I keep for personal stuff. I've had my personal number for 25 years and if I ever get a new job I'll have to give the work number back.

Maddy70 · 18/03/2025 13:21

We have that as it's a second number. One is for my work contacts the other private

outerspacepotato · 18/03/2025 13:29

If he's got a second phone # and is lying to you about it, he's got something to hide.

FarFromtheMadders · 18/03/2025 13:35

If he has Hushed and he’s lying about it there can be no good reason! https://hushed.com/ You’d need to search his app history to see if he’s downloaded it @Alex991

The Temporary & Second Phone Number App For Wifi Calling

Hushed is the best second number app for Wi-Fi calling. Make private calls, send texts, and manage multiple numbers all on a single device.

https://hushed.com/

user1471550643 · 18/03/2025 13:43

I had a “work number “ on my phone a few years ago, it meant I had my own phone with its number but it also enabled a completely different number for work calls and voicemail s.. and customers would call at all hours. I hope this is the explanation in your case .

coxesorangepippin · 18/03/2025 13:46

Call a spade a spade

He has a second number, you saw it, then he lied about it

Why is he lying?

FeministUnderTheCatriarchy · 18/03/2025 13:59

It could have been totally innocent, a lot of people have second numbers... but the fact that he lied proves it isn't.

If it was nothing he would have been like "oh yeah, I use it for work/signing up for things online".

TalkToTheHand123 · 12/07/2025 06:40

I wouldn't have mentioned it. You've made him more weary and have shown him you have doubts. I would just continue to snoop. It could be totally innocent, but sounds a bit dodgy. Many men get another number to cheat.