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Google Voice Question(s) - NOT AN INVITE THREAD

Pinnacle

Member
Jan 15, 2010
50
0
Ok, so I have been invited to join GV and am finding myself in a quandary of sorts.

I know I have 2 choices, GV with my number and GV with Google number.

I'm hoping someone here can help me make an informed decision. I have watched the videos on the site that explains the differences somewhat but I am hoping to get real world advice and not just a basic how-to video.

Hopefully I can here from different people that have chosen different options and whether they are having buyers remorse on not choosing the other option and why.

TIA

Pinnacle
 
Initially, it's easier to keep your own number, at least if you've had the number for a while and it's the one that all your friends know. But in the long run, you gain lots of flexibility by using a GV number ... that'll be especially useful if you think at some point you'll want to be able to access multiple devices with a single number. (Like a land line and a cell, or maybe a work number.) And it'll be easier to hold onto a GV number if you move to certain locations, or if you someday go for a period without having a phone of your own. And of course, using the GV number doesn't preclude people from calling you on your existing number.

So basically, my advice would be to get the GV number.
 
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I went with the new number, even though I don't really need it. I'm a grad student, and I only have my cell phone--my dinky office has no phone, and my apartment has no landline, so all of the call forwarding stuff is useless to me. Also, I've had the same cell # for 5 years, and I'm not going to change it until I absolutely have to.

BUT, I didn't want to miss out on all the extra bells and whistles if/when I eventually need them. So I just got a new # and forwarded my VZW voicemail to Google Voice, so I can still take advantage of the visual voicemail service. And I still make calls using my VZW#, but set up GV so that it automatically calls out using GV only when I make international calls... have called my brother in Japan through it a few times. Have no complaints whatsoever.

Good luck!
 
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I went with a new number, but I have a long-established landline, which I keep because I find so much more reliable (with much better uptime) than my cable company's service (which isn't terrible, but it is down more often), and if I call emergency services, I want e911 to know where I am calling from instantly. (I do have to say, though, that there was no option when I started GV - you had to choose a GV number.) However, the way that I like to use Google Voice more than any other use is to forward the home phone to the GV number when I am traveling, so that calls will forward to my cell phone (or will be captured by GV's voice mail, with an e-mail transcription sent to me within a few minutes.)

I took a trip to Europe a few years ago and there were some places we stayed at where we had to call to book the room. If I'd had GV then, I would have used it to make the phone calls. Otherwise, I might only use it otherwise if I was calling somewhere and didn't want my standard phone number's caller ID to appear.

I'm starting to give the GV number to places where they ask for my phone number - ordering things online, etc.

At some point (probably today, actually), I'm going to switch my mobile phone's voice mail to Google Voice as well
 
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One more quick question. Do I need to install any apps on my phone for this?

I went through the setup process and it never said anything about it but I thought I had remembered seein an app for it once before.

Yeag, you don't need to, but you'll want to install the Google Voice app, it's much smoother to use than the mobile web interface.
 
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I have GV using my personal number and in the settings tab of the web interface it gives me the option of upgrading to a GV number. That may make your decision easier. I will probably upgrade to a GV number to take advantage of the other features. Has anyone noticed in lag by forwarding your Verizon voice mail to GV?
 
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I am having either a problem with the google voice app on my eris or I am missing something lol...I downloaded the app from the marketplace and i logged and and got everything working good, but I cannot find the app anywhere on my phone after i close out of it. It is not in the full list of applications or widgets and the only way I can go into the app is if I go to the market and go to my downloads and choose google voice and then click Open. Any help???? I wanted to add it as a shortcut/widget on my homescreen for easy access b/c I want to use it for my sms.
 
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I am having either a problem with the google voice app on my eris or I am missing something lol...I downloaded the app from the marketplace and i logged and and got everything working good, but I cannot find the app anywhere on my phone after i close out of it. It is not in the full list of applications or widgets and the only way I can go into the app is if I go to the market and go to my downloads and choose google voice and then click Open. Any help???? I wanted to add it as a shortcut/widget on my homescreen for easy access b/c I want to use it for my sms.

The Google Voice app is labeled "Voice" in the list of apps on your phone. The icon will be a white quote balloon with a blue phone inside of it.
 
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