Google takes another step to becoming a carrier

[Bateluer]

http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/19/google-voice-now-lets-you-port-your-own-phone-number/

We'd be lying if we said we hadn't been waiting on this feature since the service's debut. As one reader just notified us (and verified by a number of staffers), Google Voice now lets you port your own phone number into its system -- as in, that 10-digit hometown relic you've been holding onto as long as you've carried a handset can now live in the cloud and grant you freedom to start afresh / forward to your many on-hand devices. Check under phone setting to see if "change / port" is now an option. The cost of porting is $20 and, as you may guess, it'll terminate your current service plan and probably prompt the carrier in question to charge applicable early termination fees, but that's pittance for saving your old line for the indefinite future. You know, just in case your seventh grade crush gets the nerve to call and say, "sorry." Of course he / she will, just give it time.

Bam!

 

[Patranus]

I hope they enjoy all of the regulation things will bring with it.

 

[gsaldivar]

I can't get the porting page to show up. I hope they turn it back on soon...

 

[Gooberlx2]

as you may guess, it'll terminate your current service plan and probably prompt the carrier in question to charge applicable early termination fees,

There's gotta be a way to prevent that if you notify them first or something.

 

[zerocool84]

There's gotta be a way to prevent that if you notify them first or something.

How??? You're going against the TOS on your contract.

 

[boomhower]

Interesting, I am cancelling my cell contract so I just might do this. I have never used google voice much since they don't offer any local numbers here.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

I read that it doesn't work for landline service yet.

 

[her209]

I hope Google buys up Sprint with the way Sprint is going.

 

[Dulanic]

I hope Google buys up Sprint with the way Sprint is going.

I'd like to hear what way that is. I mean I would love for it to happen, but I don't get that comment. Sprint has the lowest cost, the handset choices has drastically increased, their customer service has improved, their net income has been rising (less red) quite a bit and their stock prices have gone up. Oh and Sprint is one of the only big carriers that doesn't cap downloading.

 

[Gooberlx2]

How??? You're going against the TOS on your contract.

I dunno. You call your carrier and tell 'em you want to port your number to a different service but still keep your plan under a new number. What the hell do they care about which number you're using? Wouldn't they rather keep your business? Maybe charge you some kind of activation fee for the new number?

I'm sure they have tricks available to facilitate this kind of thing. Maybe open a new account with exactly the same plan and contract length (or even require a new contract if you're willing), and waive the termination fee on the old account when you port the number?

 

[boomhower]

I hope Google buys up Sprint with the way Sprint is going.

Removing promised early upgrades, upping data fees, customer service still sucks. They hit a home run with the EVO. Since then it's been pretty much nothing but duds. The competition now has large screen Android phones. Unless they find another phone like that is a step above the competition it will start going downhill. Their decision to stick with wimax isn't going to help. Yes, I am a Sprint customer. Until next month anyways.

 

[her209]

I'd like to hear what way that is. I mean I would love for it to happen, but I don't get that comment. Sprint has the lowest cost, the handset choices has drastically increased, their customer service has improved, their net income has been rising (less red) quite a bit and their stock prices have gone up. Oh and Sprint is one of the only big carriers that doesn't cap downloading.

Sprint does indeed have the lowest cost plans. That's the only reason why I haven't left them after over 8 years of continuous service. But for me personally, the touted 3G coverage isn't all that great and 3G speed is lacking when there is 3G service. Hell, I can't even get service at home so I have to force Roaming to be able to make and receive calls.

The $10 smartphone "fee" will drive a lot of customers away - especially if they don't have 4G coverage and the competitor does. And only 4G is uncapped. 3G is capped at 5GB per month. My contract is the Everything Plus Family plan with 4 lines of service, all "smartphones", 2 lines expiring next month. What this means is if I renew, I will eventually get hit with $40 extra in fees to upgrade all 4 phones. Sure I could get "dumb" phones, but then it defeats the purpose of the data package.

Phone selection is lacking. As of right now, I can upgrade to the EVO ($200), EVO Shift ($150) or Epic 4G ($200) with an extra $10 monthly charge (pre-Jan 30). I could go with a Pre (don't see it being sold on the Sprint site anymore though), Pixi ($0), Hero ($150), or Touch Pro 2 ($200). All older phones.

Verizon, in comparison, has the equivalent phones. In addition, they have a larger selection, yes, even including the iPhone. And coverage and signal strength seems better since I'm piggy backing off of them via roaming.

Financially, Sprint has been losing money:

2010 Q3 - 910 million
2010 Q2 - 760 million
2010 Q1 - 865 million

Admittedly, I haven't looked at the Verizon or AT&T's financials.

 

[Dulanic]

I don't disagree with that myself. I just can't justify the cost, but if I didn't have the service by my house I think I would too. I used to have t-mobile but switched to sprint due to coverage. But it would be a big pill to swallow to swap from $150ish for 3 phones to over $200. This shit keeps up I am going to get to the point where I have a $0 fee and a prepaid lol.

My biggest problem with AT&T and Verizon is their rip off data packages. $30 for unlimited PER phone? I mean $30 is bad enough, but per phone? This is why the $10 fee is not bad compared to everyone else. Even with the $10, it is still a good amount cheaper.

 

[gsaldivar]

The porting page is back up in case anyone was waiting!

 

[Robert Munch]

So what's the benefits again, for porting over?

 

[gsaldivar]

So what's the benefits again, for porting over?

You can now use your old existing mobile number, from any carrier, as your Google Voice number. You no longer have to choose a new number to use Google Voice.

Place and receive calls, get transcribed searchable real-time "visual" voicemail delivery to your cell phone (without paying extra fees to your carrier), etc.

http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html

Love it!!!

 

[Patranus]

Place and receive calls, get transcribed searchable real-time "visual" voicemail delivery to your cell phone (without paying extra fees to your carrier), etc.

.....Google then takes that transcription and mines personal information about you, about who calls you, and what you talk about and sells that information to 3rd parties.


(Personally, I don't need Google knowing what is left on my voice mail)

 

[zerocool84]

.....Google then takes that transcription and mines personal information about you, about who calls you, and what you talk about and sells that information to 3rd parties.


(Personally, I don't need Google knowing what is left on my voice mail)

Apple gets the same personal info that Google gets. Apple can get even more personal info than Google could since they control every aspect of the device and can input more control into how they get info than any other wireless manufacturer. We've already had threads on this that all are bad.

 

[gsaldivar]

.....Google then takes that transcription and mines personal information about you, about who calls you, and what you talk about and sells that information to 3rd parties.

Disregarding for a minute that Apple and other content delivery companies already do the exact same thing (but don't exactly advertise the fact that they do...), I'm not paranoid and could care less. I'm willing to view some targeted ads to get all this phone integration for free.

For the tinfoil-hat crowd, there are paid services that will do voicemail transcription for a nominal fee so go sign up for that if you like.

 

[Robert Munch]

You can now use your old existing mobile number, from any carrier, as your Google Voice number. You no longer have to choose a new number to use Google Voice.

Place and receive calls, get transcribed searchable real-time "visual" voicemail delivery to your cell phone (without paying extra fees to your carrier), etc.

http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html

Love it!!!

Nice but, once you do that you would break an existing contract if ya had one. What about data services how is that handled?

 

[Patranus]

Apple gets the same personal info that Google gets. Apple can get even more personal info than Google could since they control every aspect of the device and can input more control into how they get info than any other wireless manufacturer. We've already had threads on this that all are bad.

Pretty sure Apple doesn't get the contents of my email or voicemail.

Let me spell it out for you and be perfectly clear. Google know exactly who you are talking to and what you are saying if you use Google voice. If you use gmail, Google knows exactly what you are saying to whomever the recipient of your email is.

So, how exactly is Apple mining my email and voicemail?

 

[zerocool84]

Pretty sure Apple doesn't get the contents of my email or voicemail.

Let me spell it out for you and be perfectly clear. Google know exactly who you are talking to and what you are saying if you use Google voice. If you use gmail, Google knows exactly what you are saying to whomever the recipient of your email is.

So, how exactly is Apple mining my email and voicemail?

How do you know Apple doesn't??? How do you know Google does? Is that clear enough for you? If you're so worried about protecting your identity, why do you own a smartphone? Every app you download gets info from you. Everything you do is tracked. It doesn't matter whether it's Apple or Google or Microsoft, they all do it. What makes you think Apple doesn't already take key words from your emails and track you? If you think it's so bad, stop using a smartphone. You're the one who brought this stuff in here that had NOTHING to do with the topic at hand.

 

[I Saw OJ]

Are data only plans available for verizon? If they are I would do this in a heart beat since I get next to no phone calls anyway.

 

[zerocool84]

Are data only plans available for verizon? If they are I would do this in a heart beat since I get next to no phone calls anyway.

Well Google Voice still uses your minutes and if you can prove you're legally deaf then yes you could get a plan with no minutes but other than that every phone from every carrier is going to have to have a regular data/minutes plan on it.

 

[ViRGE]

How do you know Apple doesn't??? How do you know Google does?

Unless I'm mistaken, phone calls and email don't go through Apple's servers (MobileMe not withstanding); meanwhile using Gmail + Google Voice would result in both of those going through Google's servers. That's a pretty big difference right there, never mind the fact that Apple is a consumer electronics company who derives their income from selling products, while Google is a search company who derives their income form selling advertising.

Ultimately if you're not paying for a service, then there's a good chance someone is paying for you.