Want to try different prepaid plans. Port number to Google Voice?

[nitsuj3580]

I'm finally parting ways with my precious $30 SERO plan as my Touch Pro 2 just isn't cutting it anymore. Rather than upgrade to $50 SERO and stay on Sprint's crappy network, I went ahead and bought an unlocked iPhone 5c.

I'm going to switch to Straight Talk but could potentially see trying out AIO Wireless and the $30 TMobile plan at some point.

Rather than port my number over and over again, I'm thinking I should just pay the $20 and port it to Google Voice and then configure my Google Voice to forward my calls/texts to whatever number Straight Talk assigns me.

Is this a smart way to go? Anyone else do this? Or should I just port my number to ST and then port it again to another service if I don't stay with ST?

 

[Ravynmagi]

I ported my number to Google Voice and have been very happy with it. With Google Voice I can have my number ring to different phones at once. And I could easily change phones and numbers and easily add those new numbers to my main Google Voice number.

The only downside is I need to use the Google Voice app to dial, otherwise if I use the stock dialer it shows the phone's real number and not the Google Voice number. I sometimes forget and people see a strange number.

However that also has a cool side too because you pretty much have two numbers available on your phone. So you could give some people your Google Voice number and other people that number on that particular phone.

 

[paperwastage]

The only downside is I need to use the Google Voice app to dial, otherwise if I use the stock dialer it shows the phone's real number and not the Google Voice number. I sometimes forget and people see a strange number.

if you set up GVoice properly on android, the standard dialer can be forced to connect via GVoice all the time (but you'll need a valid data connection for this to work...)

You can also choose for the dialer to prompt you to connect via Gvoice/default Simcard phone number

for now, GVoice is free... Google might charge $ in the future (i'll still be willing to pay them over the crappy telecoms right now)

 

[lothar]

I'm finally parting ways with my precious $30 SERO plan as my Touch Pro 2 just isn't cutting it anymore. Rather than upgrade to $50 SERO and stay on Sprint's crappy network, I went ahead and bought an unlocked iPhone 5c.

I'm going to switch to Straight Talk but could potentially see trying out AIO Wireless and the $30 TMobile plan at some point.

Rather than port my number over and over again, I'm thinking I should just pay the $20 and port it to Google Voice and then configure my Google Voice to forward my calls/texts to whatever number Straight Talk assigns me.

Is this a smart way to go? Anyone else do this? Or should I just port my number to ST and then port it again to another service if I don't stay with ST?

Eeew...
You should have spent an extra $100 on that and upgraded to the 5S. It's worth it.

Also, if the sole purpose of you moving was Google Voice, then you should have gone with Android because it integrates perfectly with the phone, unlike the iOS version.

 

[lothar]

I ported my number to Google Voice and have been very happy with it. With Google Voice I can have my number ring to different phones at once. And I could easily change phones and numbers and easily add those new numbers to my main Google Voice number.

The only downside is I need to use the Google Voice app to dial, otherwise if I use the stock dialer it shows the phone's real number and not the Google Voice number. I sometimes forget and people see a strange number.

However that also has a cool side too because you pretty much have two numbers available on your phone. So you could give some people your Google Voice number and other people that number on that particular phone.

In the Google Voice app, go to Settings ---> Making calls, and Select "Use Google Voice to make all calls" option.
This option has been there for many years(on the Android version at least) and is not something new.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Oops... My Nexus 4 is already setup that way and the stock dialer infact does use my Google Voice number.

Guess I've been spending too much time with my iPhone 5S lately. As someone already mentioned, the integration isn't quite as tight, so you will have to use Google Voice to dial from that on iOS.

 

[Red Storm]

Google Voice is awesome especially for pre-paid use. You can freely jump between the many offerings without annoying your contacts.