Help Google Voice - Help

[Travisimo]

The Droid X is my first Android phone and my first attempt at using Google Voice. I'm trying to wrap my head around how it works, but I have a few lingering questions:

- I have a Google Voice number that I give out to everyone to call and text me.

- When someone calls that number, it forwards the call to my cell phone and shows their caller ID.

- However, Verizon counts this as a call from some server phone number, right, and not an actual call from the other person's number? So in that respect, it will not be included under Mobile to Mobile minutes even if they are also on Verizon since it is passing through Google Voice, right?

- So I've read that you can put this Google Voice server number in as one of your Friends & Family numbers, and then it will count calls coming from GV as free minutes? However, I also read that this is against Verizon's term of service. So what are you supposed to do? If you don't have the GV server number as one of those numbers, then EVERY call that someone makes to you will be peak minutes, even if they are on Verizon or another F&M number.

- So I guess I could just use GV as my voicemail and nothing more, but that totally defeats the purpose of having it. If I use it, I want to use it fully and have my GV number be the number I give out to everyone.

Any suggestions?

 

[defkorn]

- However, Verizon counts this as a call from some server phone number, right, and not an actual call from the other person's number? So in that respect, it will not be included under Mobile to Mobile minutes even if they are also on Verizon since it is passing through Google Voice, right?
I believe this is correct.

- So I've read that you can put this Google Voice server number in as one of your Friends & Family numbers, and then it will count calls coming from GV as free minutes? However, I also read that this is against Verizon's term of service. So what are you supposed to do? If you don't have the GV server number as one of those numbers, then EVERY call that someone makes to you will be peak minutes, even if they are on Verizon or another F&M number.
I'm not sure how Verizon would ever know it's GV, but this is how you get around what you asked above. If you have your GV number as a "friend" on one of those plans, all calls to/from it are free.

- So I guess I could just use GV as my voicemail and nothing more, but that totally defeats the purpose of having it. If I use it, I want to use it fully and have my GV number be the number I give out to everyone.
The visual voicemail is amazing, if you dont use it for anything else. But you forgot the free texting, unless you aren't a big text message user and don't care about that. The Google Voice app from Google is pretty nice.

Any suggestions?

Replies in bold above

 

[wreed]

So if I use GV as my visual voicemail how do I get rid of the voicemail icon on the call area? Since this is for VZ's visual voicemail, can I replace it with google voice shortcut? I want to make GV as streamlined as possible on my phone

 

[defkorn]

Go to Menu>Settings>Call Settings and under Voicemail service select Google Voice. Then under Voicemail settings, make sure your GV number is being used for Voicemail number. You will no longer be using Verizon for voicemail, and will only get the GV icons/notifications. If you're using the GV app, theres really no need to forward messages to SMS/email either.

 

[wreed]

Mine says it's using Google Voice for both yet I still see the Visual Voicemail icons? I did download the GV app, did I not need to do that. Was GV already integrated within the x? I am confused as to why I still see the Visual Voicemail icon when I pull up the dialer is this standard and normal?

 

[defkorn]

Mine says it's using Google Voice for both yet I still see the Visual Voicemail icons? I did download the GV app, did I not need to do that. Was GV already integrated within the x? I am confused as to why I still see the Visual Voicemail icon when I pull up the dialer is this standard and normal?

Ah, didn't realize you have the Verizon Visual Voicemail app as well. Can that be uninstalled? Sorry, don't have a Droid X to play with just some experience with GV.

 

[wreed]

Visual voicemail is a core app, sux.

 

[defkorn]

Does verizon charge for that then? Seems pretty lame. . .

 

[wreed]

Yes they do charge 2.99 per month. I want to put the gv app in this visual voicemail's place. When I click to check my voicemail with that icon it tries to call me even though I have the option on in gv to go to my voicemail from this line it still doesn't work.

 

[syntrix]

Once you install and configure GV app on your phone, there's an option to use GV as your default voicemail.

It essentially does *71+your10digitphone.

I then have GV (online) configured to email me the transcript. IIRc there's a link to play the voice version.

Or just go into GV app and you can play the voice version from there.

 

[Travisimo]

Yeah, the GV app is pretty nice. You can see the transcript of your VM as well as listen to it. And I do all of my texting to and from it, so they all use the data plan.

It's just the voice part that is less than ideal for me. As long as I can put the Google server number in my Friends and Family without causing Verizon to get angry with me (haha), then that will work out well. I'll actually use very few charged minutes on my voice plan since everything will be routed through Google Voice. Somehow I don't think they are going to like that, though....

Of course, that also means the person calling ME will be using THEIR peak minutes since they are no longer calling a Verizon number. And it also means I have to put my wife's number (who's also on my plan) as one of our Friends and Family since when we talk to each other, it will not be direct Verizon to Verizon.