Hero and Google Voice.

[NCKK]

Okay I'm posting this here, because I don't know if it is different for other phones...

I just got a Google Voice invite the other day, and before it gets set up, I wanted to know if the "Rumor" I heard was true.

Is there a way to set up Google Voice, and cancel my service (sprint), to get out of paying monthly bills?

I heard something about people with the IPhones doing this, and somehow got the notion that I could too? Not that I need to get out of my bill, but lets face it, who wouldn't enjoy that extra pocket money?

 

[Deleted User]

Okay I'm posting this here, because I don't know if it is different for other phones...

I just got a Google Voice invite the other day, and before it gets set up, I wanted to know if the "Rumor" I heard was true.

Is there a way to set up Google Voice, and cancel my service (sprint), to get out of paying monthly bills?

I heard something about people with the IPhones doing this, and somehow got the notion that I could too? Not that I need to get out of my bill, but lets face it, who wouldn't enjoy that extra pocket money?

No, Google Voice is not a phone service. It just forwards calls to an existing phone (cell, home, work, etc).

 

[jdw187]

You can, however, port your phone number to google voice, and use it as an answering machine or forward to some other number. At least then is people call your old number, you can get on the internet and listen or read the messages. I'm thinking of diitching my landline and doing this myself.

 

[BrianR]

This is a huge misconception about Google Voice. It is not a VOIP service. It's original point and use was to consolidate all your phone numbers down to ONE NUMBER. Instead of giving out a HOME number, CELL number, WORK number, etc, you only need to give out ONE - your Google Voice number - and then that number would ring to all your phones. There is no more missing a call because someone called your home, but you were out. No missing a cell call because your battery was dead. Cell calls ring to your home phone, home calls ring to your cell phone, all through one new number.

Which is great... if you want to give out a completely new number to EVERYONE. So what other have done is kept their Google Voice number separate. for people that work at home - it's their new "office" number. If you live in the San Fernando Valley, but want people to think you live in Hollywood, then you get a 323 GV number so they dont see your 818 number. etc. You can then essentially route calls however you want.

The good thing about GV, is that it can handle calls like Gmail handles email. Easy "spam" filtering of calls so they never get to you - forward GV calls to your cell, home, wherever, or forward your home/cell calls to GV, and get voice transcription emails of ALL messages.

But to be honest, I dont think it will ever truly come into it's own, until it's VOIP.

 

[daman7676]

So...when do you think Google will start charging for this?

 

[Deleted User]

So...when do you think Google will start charging for this?

Just like drug dealers. Get you hooked and then start charging ;-)

 

[BrianR]

So...when do you think Google will start charging for this?

Start charging for what? For Google Voice? Never. It's not their business model.

Start charging for VOIP? They have to HAVE VOIP to charge for it. And again, it's not their business model. So I imagine that when they do start VOIP - and yes, I think they will - that it will be free.


(But I think "Google VOICE" should have been saved for VOIP. Even "Google TALK". I find it strange and shortsighted that they used both of those names for services other than VOICE and TALKING.)

 

[Deleted User]

Start charging for what? For Google Voice? Never. It's not their business model.

Start charging for VOIP? They have to HAVE VOIP to charge for it. And again, it's not their business model. So I imagine that when they do start VOIP - and yes, I think they will - that it will be free.


(But I think "Google VOICE" should have been saved for VOIP. Even "Google TALK". I find it strange and shortsighted that they used both of those names for services other than VOICE and TALKING.)

Google recently acquired Gizmo5. I believe Google will use that for their VOIP like they did with GrandCentral becoming Google Voice.

 

[romeosidvicious]

They most likely won't charge the everyday user. Just like docs is still free, Google Apps for Domains is still free, GMail is still free and now 7GB or more of storage, and so on and on and on. They charge businesses for their services but the folks like you and I get it free. Some services are free with features for a fee but those aren't the norm. Google isn't in the business of making money off of services but rather advertising. They are making money using GV already, maybe not enough to cover costs, but they are already using what they learn in their advertising. I doubt GV will ever cost the single consumer.

 

[Deleted User]

They are making money using GV already, maybe not enough to cover costs, but they are already using what they learn in their advertising. I doubt GV will ever cost the single consumer.

I thought the way they are making money is by charging for international calls? I haven't seen the first advertisement in Google Voice (or heard one while on the phone).

 

[romeosidvicious]

I thought the way they are making money is by charging for international calls? I haven't seen the first advertisement in Google Voice (or heard one while on the phone).

They do charge for international but it's such a tiny amount. You may never see advertising on GV. There's no add on news.google.com but they track your browsing habits by what you click to add to their data pool. They already transcribe your voice mails and I am willing to bet they are mining that just like they mine your emails in GMail for the data pool. They don't have to have ads in voice for it to add massive value to their already huge data pool. They can leave it ad free and free to the consumer and just build their data pool and that value is absolutely huge.

 

[Deleted User]

They do charge for international but it's such a tiny amount. You may never see advertising on GV. There's no add on news.google.com but they track your browsing habits by what you click to add to their data pool. They already transcribe your voice mails and I am willing to bet they are mining that just like they mine your emails in GMail for the data pool. They don't have to have ads in voice for it to add massive value to their already huge data pool. They can leave it ad free and free to the consumer and just build their data pool and that value is absolutely huge.

Ah, thanks. I didn't think of that.

 

[BrianR]

I thought the way they are making money is by charging for international calls? I haven't seen the first advertisement in Google Voice (or heard one while on the phone).

I'm sure the international call charges just cover COST, I dont think it's a profitable thing.

 

[NewYorkLaw]

If you have a pick 3 or pick 5 option on your cellphone plan, include your incoming and outgoing numbers (yes, there's a different number for your outgoing google voice numbers, using their app) in your list and set google voice to show "your" number on incoming calls, so you'll never use any of your minutes.
Pete

 

[ItsDon]

If you have a pick 3 or pick 5 option on your cellphone plan, include your incoming and outgoing numbers (yes, there's a different number for your outgoing google voice numbers, using their app) in your list and set google voice to show "your" number on incoming calls, so you'll never use any of your minutes.
Pete

I do exactly this with my GV number and Pick3 except I don't have "my" incoming number shown. Most folks who call me back use their cell phone so the call is free on my Everything Data plan. I like knowing who is calling and with GV I always have a way to block them if they become a pest (I sell stuff on Craigslist only give my GV number out).