Google Voice now open to everyone

abaez

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2000
7,155
1
81
http://googlevoiceblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/google-voice-for-everyone.html

Been using it for years. Transitioned my main phone to the GV number about two years ago. Works fantastic.

If you're lucky enough to have grabbed a Gizmo account, you can use the software for free incoming and outgoing calls on your PC.

I'm sure you could do it on a phone, but I have 400 minutes I never get close to using, so I have not tried it. But SIPdroid and/or sopsorcery should do it for you.

Edit: 10 reasons to love Google Voice! http://brunosan.blogspot.com/2010/06/10-reasons-i-love-google-voice.html
 

Gillbot

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
28,830
17
81
http://googlevoiceblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/google-voice-for-everyone.html

Been using it for years. Transitioned my main phone to the GV number about two years ago. Works fantastic.

If you're lucky enough to have grabbed a Gizmo account, you can use the software for free incoming and outgoing calls on your PC.

I'm sure you could do it on a phone, but I have 400 minutes I never get close to using, so I have not tried it. But SIPdroid and/or sopsorcery should do it for you.

Edit: 10 reasons to love Google Voice! http://brunosan.blogspot.com/2010/06/10-reasons-i-love-google-voice.html

I thought they were limiting Gizmo5 outgoing calls and such. I had it all set up through Gizmo5 but stopped using it when people started hammering them.
 

abaez

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2000
7,155
1
81
I thought they were limiting Gizmo5 outgoing calls and such. I had it all set up through Gizmo5 but stopped using it when people started hammering them.

I have GV forward to my Gizmo5 number and it works fine whenever someone calls my GV number.
 

SuPrEIVIE

Platinum Member
Aug 21, 2003
2,538
0
0
this sounds good but the ability i covet most is to be able to make n take calls for free, can google voice do this or is it just a consolidator?
 

DanDaManJC

Senior member
Oct 31, 2004
776
0
76
yeah I'm just waiting until I can port my number to google voice, then just get a data only plan :)

or I could just switch phones numbers. but it's easier to hold onto the same phone #
 

CTrain

Diamond Member
Sep 26, 2001
4,940
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I just signed up and linked to my cell phone.
Worked flawlessly.
I know people have been using this for months but I'm interested to hear more of what its capable of.
 

preslove

Lifer
Sep 10, 2003
16,754
64
91
Google voice is the one reason I may go with Verizon and a Moto X or droid2 over Sprint and the EVO or new Samsung model. Verizon's texting plans are pure gangrape, but free texting through GV would make their plan more reasonable. Does anyone use GV for their txting exclusively? Is it just as good, except lack of MMS?
 

simonizor

Golden Member
Feb 8, 2010
1,312
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This is awesome. I didn't think they were going to release it for free.. There are so many useful features that they could easily make some money off of it, but I'm happy that they're giving it away.
 

abaez

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2000
7,155
1
81
Google voice is the one reason I may go with Verizon and a Moto X or droid2 over Sprint and the EVO or new Samsung model. Verizon's texting plans are pure gangrape, but free texting through GV would make their plan more reasonable. Does anyone use GV for their txting exclusively? Is it just as good, except lack of MMS?

Yes, I use it for texting exclusively. Works the same as regular SMS.

The only thing is that you cannot use programs like Handcent SMS because you don't use SMS and go through the GV app. Apparently those apps are very good.

yeah I'm just waiting until I can port my number to google voice, then just get a data only plan :)

or I could just switch phones numbers. but it's easier to hold onto the same phone #

Be wary when going data-only. You are essentially tied to having data access. When you hit a dead spot you essentially have a brick (no texts/calls etc).

I may have to go this route. My Google I/O phone can no longer make calls, but data works fine. I'll have to see how much longer I can ride the train. Hopefully Sprint's 3G is good enough to rely on it for calls.
 
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Rottie

Diamond Member
Feb 10, 2002
4,795
2
81
if Google Voice invents voice to text for hearing impaired people but I doubt it will ever happen in the future
 

R Nilla

Diamond Member
Jul 26, 2006
3,835
1
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I've been using Google Voice on my new Android phone for a couple months now. I use it for voicemail as well as free texting as I refuse to have a text plan. It integrates nicely with the Android platform and I haven't had any issues using either of these features.

At first I also used it to make and receive voice calls but I found that it adds 1 or 2 seconds of delay in addition to the lag already present in cell phone calls. It's not necessarily a deal breaker but it was annoying enough to me and people on the other end that I had to stop using it.
 

preslove

Lifer
Sep 10, 2003
16,754
64
91
I've been using Google Voice on my new Android phone for a couple months now. I use it for voicemail as well as free texting as I refuse to have a text plan. It integrates nicely with the Android platform and I haven't had any issues using either of these features.

At first I also used it to make and receive voice calls but I found that it adds 1 or 2 seconds of delay in addition to the lag already present in cell phone calls. It's not necessarily a deal breaker but it was annoying enough to me and people on the other end that I had to stop using it.

But that means you have to use two different #'s for voice and text, right?
 

lokiju

Lifer
May 29, 2003
18,526
5
0
Now if they'd just allow number porting into Google Voice, I'd be one very happy user.

I want to disassociate my phone number everyone knows with any cell provider and this is by far the best option, once/if enabled.
 

abaez

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2000
7,155
1
81
http://googlevoiceblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/faster-dialing-with-google-voice-on.html

Google Voice no longer needs a data connection to properly dial out and have your GV number show up on the person's phone you are calling. Woohoo!

This was a problem for me at Coachella - no data connect, but I had cell connect. GV could not go through for a call because of no data. So I had to dial them directly from my cell's number. They saw some weird number (my cell's actual number) instead of my GV number and didn't pick up! This takes care of that.
 

notposting

Diamond Member
Jul 22, 2005
3,498
33
91
This one though gives everyone a direct access number, so if you have one of the plans allowing unlimited calling to certain numbers you might not want this one.

That's what I read anyway.....so be careful.
 

Rottie

Diamond Member
Feb 10, 2002
4,795
2
81
What do you mean? That's exactly what the visual voicemail thing is.

I think you might not understand my english grammer anymore I am now embarressed. God, please help Gorcorps and everyone understand my awful poor english grammers?
 

tatteredpotato

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2006
3,934
0
76
I think you might not understand my english grammer anymore I am now embarressed. God, please help Gorcorps and everyone understand my awful poor english grammers?

Are you talking about how when you get a VM it will text/email you a(n attempt at) a voice to text transcript of the message?