I live in Canada, and I am figuring out a way to get a “registered” phone number from a cell company just for SMS verification texts. However, I am wanting to find out if there is a service that would do the same thing (and potentially cheaper: the lowest plan I found from a carrier is CAD$15/mo). I would be using it just for SMS verification texts (WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.).
Callcentric has Canada numbers. For their Pay Per Minute plan, there is a US$3.95 setup fee. Monthly charge of $3 for the number, plus $0.015 per minute incoming voice (outgoing charge varies by location called) and $0.01 per SMS. Probably an additional charge for 911 emergency number access if you tell them you are going to use the number from inside the USA or Canada.
You can read your text messages on their website and/or have them sent to your email address.
I got a California number from them when I was living there in 2009 or so, and added the SMS more recently (which added $1 to my previous monthly charge of $2). It has never failed me for SMS verification for banks, etc. I have not tried WhatsApp or Telegram.