Google Voice with Droid Question

[BottledHate]

Thanks, colnago - I DO appreciate your responses. They have been the most informative.

What you mentioned in this and your previous response indicates that "referring to the chart" would not have given me the answer I was looking for. Your responses have indicated that I would only get 2 of the 5 features available to me if I signed up for a "Using a non-Google Number" account. If I would have had all 5 features of the "Using a non-Google Number" available to me when I signed up for a "Using a Google Number" account, I would just have signed up for the "Using a Google Number" account, with no harm.

However, you have indicated that I would lose functionality by going that route - and that is precisely the information I am looking for. The numerous references to "look at the charts" was useless to me, since by looking at the very titles in the charts, they didn't describe the scenario that I was going to use.

Thus, this was not a stupid question at all ... but looking for valuable information. If I went the "Using a Google Number" route, I would get less functionality from GV ... and thus, the wrong direction for my situation.

there is no cipher key.

 

[colnago]

No prob...not saying your question was "stupid", just that the answer was, "it depends".

Irregardless of what number you assigned to GVoice, if nobody called that GVoice number, GVoice is useless as a call management tool. The only benefits at that point are voice mail (maybe, you'd still have to configure it manually) and the discounted calling, which again, would require manual intervention. So again, even if didn't give out the number, there is a scenario where GVoice would not be used at all.

I think the confusion started because you were looking at it from the wrong angle. You were looking at it in a "I don't want to...what happens if" direction, instead of "What does GVoice offer, and what do I need from it". You needed to look at it from top down to see "what happens next if...".

 

[BottledHate]

Thus, this was not a stupid question at all ... but looking for valuable information. If I went the "Using a Google Number" route, I would get less functionality from GV ... and thus, the wrong direction for my situation.

this statement is not correct for anyone trying to figure out google voice...............................................


You retain the same functionality you would have if you 'use a google number' as apposed to using a 'non google number'. The difference being that you will have another phone number to use with ALL features as well if you choose 'using a google number'. Use the number or not. It does not give you less functionality if you don't use that number currently.
in the future i have no doubt anyone using google voice and the google voice app for android will enjoy the full functionality of 'using a google number' over a 'non google number'.

sigh.

 

[BottledHate]

Thus, this was not a stupid question at all ... but looking for valuable information.

Never stupid.. I think it was just confusing.

 

[AzJazz]

this statement is not correct for anyone trying to figure out google voice...............................................

Well, I did state "... for my situation."

I'm trying to figure out Google Voice, too. Thus, this whole thread. It is a shame that in the current Google offering, I have to make my choice up front, and be stuck with the ramifications of that choice if it didn't fit my needs - which I wouldn't have found out until after I made the choice.

That is why I was asking the wizards here for valuable information based upon their existing experience. I haven't even made it past the GV invite screen that asks me for my selection, so I had nothing to work off of.

I also realized that there may not have been any wizards here that have been in my situation, but if I didn't ask, I'd never find out.

I know my situation is a "corner case", but if I have it, there may hopefully be a few others helped by this thread.

Never stupid.. I think it was just confusing.

Couldn't have said it better myself!

You retain the same functionality you would have if you 'use a google number' as apposed to using a 'non google number'. The difference being that you will have another phone number to use with ALL features as well if you choose 'using a google number'. Use the number or not. It does not give you less functionality if you don't use that number currently.
in the future i have no doubt anyone using google voice and the google voice app for android will enjoy the full functionality of 'using a google number' over a 'non google number'.

Sonovabeach. Just when I thought I had it all figured out. Are you saying that if I sign up for a "Use a Google Number" account, I WILL get the functionality of all 5 checkmarks in the table instead of just the 2 that colnago detailed earlier? Remember that the Google web page that has that chart describes the functionality you receive based upon the account type you choose when you sign up.

And, I'm all confused again.

And, I'm going to bed before my wife kills me.

 

[colnago]

Just read my posts with the examples. Then ask yourself if you need your calls screened or managed in any way. Make a flow chart if you have to. Again, if you still can't grasp it at that point, GVoice is not for you.

 

[BottledHate]

I'm trying to figure out Google Voice, too. Thus, this whole thread. It is a shame that in the current Google offering, I have to make my choice up front, and be stuck with the ramifications of that choice if it didn't fit my needs - which I wouldn't have found out until after I made the choice.

you can change your google number for $10... i don't know if that means you can change back and forth between the two options as well... i haven't gone that far. I'm happy with a full 'google number'.... or whatever! lol...

 

[BottledHate]

Just read my posts with the examples. Then ask yourself if you need your calls screened or managed in any way. Make a flow chart if you have to. Again, if you still can't grasp it at that point, GVoice is not for you.

lol, i started drawing one.... but it got messy. so i scrapped the idea.

 

[colnago]

lol, i started drawing one.... but it got messy. so i scrapped the idea.

I guess whiteboarding VoIP solutions only works when you're a VoIP engineer?



Actually I would highly recommend just making a flow chart when setting up GVoice. Just make one for every type of call i.e.

- Family calls (if yes, then route call here) (if no, route call there),
- Bill collector calls (if yes, then route call here) (if after 5pm, route call there)
- (you Supermodel here) calls (if yes Patch right thru via "barge" and ring all other associated devices...there are no other choices).

 

[BottledHate]

I guess whiteboarding VoIP solutions only works when you're a VoIP engineer?

it worked for me... but with only 1 color(pencil) and half a peice of paper... it got messy for others i'll say..

 

[MisterEff]

Shouldn't this be enough to answer your questions:

Using a Google number vs. a non-Google number : Basics - Google Voice Help

I don't have a droid yet so I can only use the voicemail feature right now because I can't use the app, but I went with a new Google number because of all the other features I will use later.

 

[colnago]

Shouldn't this be enough to answer your questions:

Using a Google number vs. a non-Google number : Basics - Google Voice Help

I don't have a droid yet so I can only use the voicemail feature right now because I can't use the app, but I went with a new Google number because of all the other features I will use later.

It "should have been", but wasn't. You don't need the app to use the calling feature (i.e. make calls via GVoice to save on cell minutes). You can do that via Gvoice mail or web access.

 

[MisterEff]

I don't have internet on this phone...I would have to call my GV number and then dial 2...which is annoying because I don't remember my contacts number. Or the going on my computer and clicking call through the inbox, but that is annoying too.

 

[jmccarthy14]

I would use GV num entirely but then I heard how poorly droid handles GV texts...

Too bad.

 

[AzJazz]

Based upon what was discussed here, I signed up for a Google Number.

As colnago described earlier, I primarily get the Voicemail features (including SMS notifications, transcriptions, Ring scheduling, and determining if an unanswered call on my mobile should go to Voicemail or to my other registered phones). I believe I also get Google's reduced rates for international calls.

That's it, as far as I know.

So to me, it looks like I get everything that signing up for a Non-Google-Number account would provide. Signing up for a Google Number did not cost me any functionality for my mobile number.

 

[BottledHate]

Based upon what was discussed here, I signed up for a Google Number.

As colnago described earlier, I primarily get the Voicemail features (including SMS notifications, transcriptions, Ring scheduling, and determining if an unanswered call on my mobile should go to Voicemail or to my other registered phones). I believe I also get Google's reduced rates for international calls.

That's it, as far as I know.

So to me, it looks like I get everything that signing up for a Non-Google-Number account would provide. Signing up for a Google Number did not cost me any functionality for my mobile number.

you don't know how relieved i am that u actually made a decision. I thought this would go on forever.

it's amazing how you came to the conclusion we were telling you since post number 2 on the thread... good luck!