Google Voice: Pro's, Con's, Costs, Tips

[Highland Ranger]

Here is what I have learned thus far, comments, corrections welcome.

The Principle Behind GV
There is an excellent YouTube Video that explains the principles of GV: YouTube - GoogleVoice's Channel

So assuming you want to use the GV number as the only number you give everyone, here are some possible advantages and shortcomings:

ADVANTAGE: between the market app for your phone and the web interface, you can shut off any "Visual Voice Mail" (Verizon) service you might have, save a few dollars a month and some phone memory.

SHORTCOMING: The voice quality from GV is not as good as Verizon's but is acceptable especially given the transcription feature.

ADVANTAGE: Voicemail transcription. Very cool.

SHORTCOMING: Possible increase in Texting Costs. Assuming you do not have an unlimited texting plan, you need to shut off SMS text notification of new voicemail (defaults on I believe). You can receive email alerts for free, and if you use the Android GV app (and you should) you won't need either as the ap does the notification.

You can outbound text for free thru the web interface, inbound texts to your GV number that are passed through do count as out of plan text messages so you'll need to get around that using email notification. If you are a big texter and don't have an unlimited plan, this is going to be an issue if you want to maintain the illusion of having a single number.

SHORTCOMING: Possible increase in airtime costs. There are several caveats here. I will explain for a Verizon Wireless Plan with unlimited "In" minutes and the capability to assign 10 friends and family numbers as "In".

"In" means unlimited airtime.

Using GV for inbound and outbound calls, you will see two new numbers on your cell bill: for incoming calls including calls you initiate through the browser interface, you will see the GV number you chose.

For outgoing calls made from the handset using the GV app, you will see some number in your area code or a nearby area code that your cell dials to make the connection to the person you are calling. The person sees the GV number on their callerID but your phone actually dials another number to connect.

The way to get around these airtime costs given the Verizon plan scheme above is to add these two numbers to your Family and Friends list.

Note that the phone does seem to dial the same number to make outgoing connections. You (and I) will need to keep tabs on that to make sure it doesn't change.

I have heard about reliability issues but have none yet to report.

I haven't noticed any impact to in call voice quality that you might expect given what I assume is routing through GV infrastructure.

 

[El Blacksheep]

My GV number is NOT the only number I give out, since I ported my old number when I got my Droid so all my friends and family already had my #.

I put my GV # on forms and applications if/when I suspect it will be passed on to telemarketers. Other than that, the only thing I use GV for is the free VVM.

 

[Highland Ranger]

Why is that? Voicemail features are cool, but it seems the power is having the single number.

What's the issue? Cost to your cell phone bill? Think they will charge for this at some point? Concerned about reliability?

 

[paimon.soror]

I have started giving out my GV number to 'new' contacts. It would just be too hard and too time consuming to have each of my contacts start calling me at my GV number after using my real phone number for years and years. However, even my real cell number forwards all voicemails to GV because I love the transcription and organization of GV

 

[El Blacksheep]

Why is that? Voicemail features are cool, but it seems the power is having the single number.

I already have a single number; now technically it's two numbers thanks to GV.

What's the issue? Cost to your cell phone bill? Think they will charge for this at some point? Concerned about reliability?

The issue is practicality. For the amount of effort it'll take to get all my friends and family to switch from my cell phone # to my GV#, what will I gain from it? Nothing.

I may use it as a primary number if I ever decide to leave Verizon and can't take my # with me, but other than that there's no incentive to try and convince over 100 people to start using a different #.

 

[bydh]

another advantage: you can get free sms via gv app, since they are sent/received via your data connection, not your carrier's texting system. If you text more than you talk, then this might save you a considerable amount on text plan add-ons.

drawback: no mms; lack of integration with sense ui features (if that applies to you).

I don't text a whole lot, and verizon's $5 add-on for 250 sms/mms is usually more than sufficient, but it's still $5/month. Thus, I'm not totally sure whether I should make this transition or not.

For those who text way more, verizon's text/talk plans are $20 more expensive than corresponding voice only plans. That amounts to a lot of savings.

 

[Deleted User]

This I've found is the best use for my google voice number... business line.

I know if a call is coming to my GV number it's a business call, and I can also shut it off or create a custom away message if I am out of town.

 

[Deleted User]

Also, one thing that Google Voice lacks that would be amazing, and complete the service IMO, is a way to show caller IDs but also show that they are through the Google Voice number. For example, you can either have it display your GV # or the Caller ID, but if you could have it show, say ++7075554545 (the number being the incoming one) it would be perfect.

 

[cth95mustang]

Update: got one!

If anyone has a GV invite, I'd greatly appreciate it. Been waiting 7 months now. Thanks!

 

[marvinrock]

the lack of MMS is what's holding me back from completely switching to GV.

 

[barnacles]

If anyone has a GV invite, I'd greatly appreciate it. Been waiting 7 months now. Thanks!

cthemenway @ gmail . com

If you're running a 2.1 rom you should be able to get it. Today I installed gv app from market, went to google.com/voice, logged in and it worked.

Weird thing is, however, when I call my GV number from a landline, it rings to someone else.. haha

 

[jdodds]

Not sure why it dials an access number to make calls, I got a bunch of long distance charges from that. But then again I am in Canada where it isn't officially available yet, just unofficially to us 403 area coders in Alberta.

If it used data to initiate the call, and just called you back automatically then I'd be set with free long distance. Until I can get a Canadian GV number that is the only use I have for it.

 

[jcsaxx]

I just recently installed the 2.1v3 on my Eris, and downloaded the latest GV app. When I called my home phone, the caller ID displays my actual cell number, not my GV number. This concerns me, so I wonder if I should go back to an older GV app. I have GV settings so that all my calls are dialed through GoogleVoice.

Any solutions?

 

[Kokapelly]

Any clue on how you get an invite to GV? i sent in a request like a month ago and still nada.

 

[Winters37]

anyone want to help me out and give me a gv invite? ive requested one about 2 months ago and i still have yet to recieve one. im not a student so i cant get a .edu email.

pm me. thanks in advance.

 

[oakindustries]

gv will show your texts sent to the gv number in the gv app for free. Works really well I might add. You are just checking your messages in two places.

 

[oakindustries]

Any clue on how you get an invite to GV? i sent in a request like a month ago and still nada.

They're opening it up to students now as long as you have a student email address ie yourname@asu.edu. Google it.

 

[bamaredwingsfan]

I wish they would incorporate Gtalk and Gvoice into one app that runs instead of 2.

Update: got one!

If anyone has a GV invite, I'd greatly appreciate it. Been waiting 7 months now. Thanks!

I just emailed them every single day for a solid month, and i got one. You just have to drive them crazy so they will send you one to shut you up LOL

 

[Winters37]

I wish they would incorporate Gtalk and Gvoice into one app that runs instead of 2.



I just emailed them every single day for a solid month, and i got one. You just have to drive them crazy so they will send you one to shut you up LOL

Can you send me an invite if you have any left? I've been asking for them and emailing them and I've yet to get one.

 

[barnacles]

Can you send me an invite if you have any left? I've been asking for them and emailing them and I've yet to get one.

I don't think they are doing the invite thing anymore. I finally got in yesterday and there is no invite option anymore. If you are running a 2.1 rom, try downloading the app, hit up google.com/voice, log in and see what happens. Worked for me.

 

[Deleted User]

I don't think they are doing the invite thing anymore. I finally got in yesterday and there is no invite option anymore. If you are running a 2.1 rom, try downloading the app, hit up google.com/voice, log in and see what happens. Worked for me.

I'm pretty sure your invite count grows or appears over time.

Sorry guys, I'm all out, but I heard they were going on ebay for like $3.

 

[Deleted User]

I don't think they are doing the invite thing anymore. I finally got in yesterday and there is no invite option anymore.

It takes a while for new accounts to get invites to give out.

 

[takeshi]

Personally, switching everyone to the GV number wasn't a big deal IMO. If people need to get in touch with you they'll adapt. We did just fine with switching numbers for decades before there was number porting.

From my perspective, dealing with multiple numbers is much more of a hassle and was outweighed by the benefits of just using GV (I don't even know my VZW number). YMMV, of course.

for incoming calls including calls you initiate through the browser interface, you will see the GV number you chose.

If you set up caller ID in GV that way. I can't stand that and, instead, have the default setting of having the actual caller ID info displayed.

There are a lot of potential pros and cons to the various features. What makes a pro or con can depend on the individual.

Also, one thing that Google Voice lacks that would be amazing, and complete the service IMO, is a way to show caller IDs but also show that they are through the Google Voice number.

There's no way that GV can overcome this. The caller ID info you see on inbound calls is just the data as presented to your carrier. There's no provision for indicating multiple numbers IIRC.

 

[Deleted User]

Also, one thing that Google Voice lacks that would be amazing, and complete the service IMO, is a way to show caller IDs but also show that they are through the Google Voice number. For example, you can either have it display your GV # or the Caller ID, but if you could have it show, say ++7075554545 (the number being the incoming one) it would be perfect.

You can sort of do this, although not exactly how you mention. Set up GV to show your GV number as the caller-id. Then turn on call-presentation.

Then when you receive a call through your GV number you'll know cause the caller-id will show your GV number and when you answer, the call presentation will tell you who is calling before you have the option of actually talking to the person.

So not quite as elegant as what you described but along the same lines.

 

[Wordslinger]

I just set Google Voicemail up on my Verizon number. I have a few questions.

1. Will forwarding my unanswered calls to Google cost me extra on my Verizon bill? I'm not sure if there's some hidden cost there.

2. I called my phone and let it go to voicemail to test out the service. I noticed it rang quite a bit before voicemail picked up. I'm afraid some people might hang up before they reach my voicemail. Is there any way to adjust the number of rings until voicemail answers?