Google Voice can do many things for you, but I think one of the most helpful is the VOICEMAIL feature.
Here is how I have it set up:
When someone calls my verizon phone number and I can't answer it, they are forwarded to my GOOGLE VOICE MAIL, not my Verizon voicemail.
Google Voice then sends me an email with the transcribed voicemail. Granted, the transcrption is sometimes off on the words, but I generally get the context of the message..
Also, I NEVER have to dial my verizon voicemail and push my passcode, then push buttons to listen to voicemails, etc.. I like that convenience..
With this set up you can also CUSTOMIZE your greetings. My wife hears a personalized greeting, as does my son, my daughter, etc.. If someone from work calls, they hear a greeting 'aimed' at them... If the number is not 'recognized' by google voice, the caller gets the standard greeting.
This is just one feature, and with this feature you aren't even 'using' the number google gave you... You are just forwarding your unanswered calls to the number.. It's great..
FC