Google Voice

[saratoga172]

I have yet to venture into using Google Voice, but as I understand, I can use it solely for texting and get rid of my $20/month texting plan.

Could anyone be so kind as to educate me on how to set it up and such please? Or post a link for me where I can read up on it. I've looked at Google's Voice info page and it wasn't the most helpful.

Also curious how it works exactly if anyone has a link. And I'd also like to keep my current phone number if possible.

I've got an iPhone 4 if that's any help.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Dice144]

On my Android phone on AT&T. I just installed the google voice app then once I was sure I liked it went ahead and canceled my unlimited text plan. I went one step further and had AT&T block texts on that number to avoid unwanted charges.

 

[saratoga172]

Do I want to do the full port of my number to Google Voice?

 

[saratoga172]

It looks like, if I'm understanding it correctly, I need to choose a new number that gives full access to GV. Then I can use that number for texting and subsequently cancel my text plan.

No way to use my current number without paying $20 to port my number it seems.

 

[wirednuts]

i use skype but not for texts, they charge way too much (2c/min for voice and 10c a text? wtf?)

anyway, you could also use aim. just send an im to the phone number you want with a + in front "+18133492345"

when they get your text, they also get a text number to reply back to you. this number seems to stick with your account too, so even if you log off for a few days you still have the same text number so people can reach you.

only drag i guess is if youre not logged into aim, the text will get bounced back to sender and they have to wait until youre online. its free though

 

[saratoga172]

I think I've got it figured out now. I just have to create a new number with Google Voice and I can use that for whatever I need.

Anyone confirm this?

 

[oznerol]

Yes, you can create a new number through Google Voice and use that number for texting. I have a few friends who do that. The only down side, and it's fairly annoying, is that you need to tell people to call you at one number and text you at the new number.

If you want to do it all through one number, you can either use the new Google voice number for everything - though calling through Google voice is a little awkward through the iPhone - with Android, it's fairly seamless. The downside with that is you lose mobile-to-mobile calling features, so you'll use more minutes.

Or you can pay whatever the fee is and port your existing number to Google voice. You'll then get a new number with your current cell phone provider (which you don't tell anyone), and no one will know you're on Google voice. Though the same downsides apply - you lose mobile-to-mobile benefits from your cell provider.

 

[saratoga172]

Ok cool. Thanks for the info oznerol. The only other thing I have a question on is if there is a way to turn off receiving the persons phone number in every text sent to my phone.

Example:
"contacts name"
+1xxx-xxx-xxxx - message
Seeing the number every time is a little annoying.

And I would definitely have to maintain calling on my actual line. I use a decent amount of mobile to mobile minutes and would go over on my anytime. Though I've got a huge amount of rollover built up right now.

 

[saratoga172]

And one other question regarding calls. If I forward my calls to my main line does that still eat out of my anytime minutes?

 

[alent1234]

except for the voice mail transcription google voice is not worth the trouble. i had it with my cell and stopped it because one month i had 50 or so less than a minute calls to my cell because of it. with at&T i get unlimited mobile to mobile minutes and GV is considered a land line

 

[Anubis]

Yes, you can create a new number through Google Voice and use that number for texting. I have a few friends who do that. The only down side, and it's fairly annoying, is that you need to tell people to call you at one number and text you at the new number.

.

yes this is very annoying, i no longer care about my friends complaining i just send texts to what ever number comes up first in my contacts, if its the wrong one, not my prob

 

[saratoga172]

yes this is very annoying, i no longer care about my friends complaining i just send texts to what ever number comes up first in my contacts, if its the wrong one, not my prob

That's why I'd have ATT block that number for all texts.

except for the voice mail transcription google voice is not worth the trouble. i had it with my cell and stopped it because one month i had 50 or so less than a minute calls to my cell because of it. with at&T i get unlimited mobile to mobile minutes and GV is considered a land line

For that I was thinking I could just disable the call option or have it go straight to voicemail on the GV number. This way I won't have to worry about it.

May not be worth the overall hassle though. We'll see after a few days.

 

[vshah]

the way to do it is to tell everyone who texts you "Hey guys, i have a new phone number" and give them your gv number. they can use it for calling or texting. If you try to explain "call me on this number but text me on this number" it's too much for people to handle.

 

[gorcorps]

Not worth the hassle IMO. GV doesn't sync with the iPhone well so you basically have to use email and not the text app. There are apps you can use if jailbroken which are better, but still don't give enough control for me.

 

[saratoga172]

I think I've got it all figured out now. Thanks for all the help so far.

gorcorps: I'm jailbroken and always will be. I use biteSMS for the quick send/reply options. I've got it working seemlesly with the GV number thus far. I just have to have people text me then I can add them to my contacts. When they text me it assigns a number to them that I can respond to and that doesn't change.

the way to do it is to tell everyone who texts you "Hey guys, i have a new phone number" and give them your gv number. they can use it for calling or texting. If you try to explain "call me on this number but text me on this number" it's too much for people to handle.

I'd love to do that but I don't want to burn through my anytime minutes by having people call the GV number. It might end up being too much hassle. Although I'm not on the phone very much except other than with a few people so I might just do that and have those few people call my actual number to save minutes.

If anyones got any questions for me shoot away. I think I've got a solid grasp on the GV setup now.

 

[alent1234]

I think I've got it all figured out now. Thanks for all the help so far.

gorcorps: I'm jailbroken and always will be. I use biteSMS for the quick send/reply options. I've got it working seemlesly with the GV number thus far. I just have to have people text me then I can add them to my contacts. When they text me it assigns a number to them that I can respond to and that doesn't change.


I'd love to do that but I don't want to burn through my anytime minutes by having people call the GV number. It might end up being too much hassle. Although I'm not on the phone very much except other than with a few people so I might just do that and have those few people call my actual number to save minutes.

If anyones got any questions for me shoot away. I think I've got a solid grasp on the GV setup now.

this

as soon as people catch on they are calling a land line number they will stop calling you

 

[saratoga172]

Not worth the hassle IMO. GV doesn't sync with the iPhone well so you basically have to use email and not the text app. There are apps you can use if jailbroken which are better, but still don't give enough control for me.

I now see what you mean. Did a trial run and canceled my texting on my phone. Only way to text with people if through the GV app itself which is very annoying. And I had no notifications since I leave them turned off. Only way for me to know if people texted was to go into the app itself. Very annoying.

It is not ready for primetime yet for iOS.

 

[jpeyton]

Using GV with iOS is painful at best. The integration is awful.

On Android it's a completely different experience. Integration is near perfect (a unified inbox option would be the icing on the cake). No MMS option (SMS only), but I'm sure it's coming.

I ported my main number to GV several months back. Paired with my unlocked contract-free handset, I have true carrier/handset mobility without any penalties. With a SIM card swap and a few clicks, I can change phones, carriers, or both, anytime I want.

 

[Dice144]

I also like google voice because I can switch to my MAC or WIN7 PC and finish whatever I was talking about on my phone.

 

[Pliablemoose]

I've been using GV for some time now, if my friends are sophisticated, I give them the 2 numbers, if not, I give out the GV number. It's decent on iOS, and Android both. Definitely good for free.

 

[abaez]

I think I've got it all figured out now. Thanks for all the help so far.

gorcorps: I'm jailbroken and always will be. I use biteSMS for the quick send/reply options. I've got it working seemlesly with the GV number thus far. I just have to have people text me then I can add them to my contacts. When they text me it assigns a number to them that I can respond to and that doesn't change.

Careful, I've read that those numbers actually *do* change every once in awhile.

 

[DefDC]

Even though I'm not using it yet, god bless GV. Put a little threat into the carrier's $10/$20 per month charging for texting... FFS...

Once prepaid gets just a little better, there's going to be a mass defection...

 

[saratoga172]

Careful, I've read that those numbers actually *do* change every once in awhile.

Thanks for the heads up. Wasn't aware of that. I've just resorted to using my text package and normal number. It's painful on iOS to use GV.

 

[saratoga172]

Even though I'm not using it yet, god bless GV. Put a little threat into the carrier's $10/$20 per month charging for texting... FFS...

Once prepaid gets just a little better, there's going to be a mass defection...

Once they get it all perfected/worked out I know I'll be switching. And I know most of my family will too.

 

[Spineshank]

If you are jailbroken get GVIntegrate (for calls..acts like it does on Android with prompting how you want to make the call) and SMS GV Extension (when enabled will send texts through your GV number via the standard Messaging app on iPhone).