Google Voice, do not get too excited....

[SirBuckley]

Google Voice is a great tool. Especially if you are looking to have one number that will find you anywhere. Some of the other features like the free texting are great, as well as getting your vmails on your phone using the app so you do not have to dial in to listen.

For those that think this is going to change there lives, consider these scenarios (all are made using Verizon assumptions as that is my provider). Remember, google voice is an app that sits between your cell phone provider and who you are talking to, all this being assumed....

-You will not get around your calling plan making outgoing calls. Even calls though google voice will use your minutes.
-Your Verizon friends will NOT be able to call you for free at your Google Voice number using Verizon mobile to mobile minutes. Therefore, where someone used to call you for free before, they are now using their minutes to call you although you are on the same network. This is because they are calling the Google Voice, which is essentially forwarding the call to you.
-If you call that person using the google voice caller ID to show up on their phone, Verizon will not recognize you as an inservice caller and will charge them minutes, if yu choose to use your verizon number you are OK. But the whole point of gVoice is to get them to quit using that number.

Therefore, the inherent problems I have I would need to tell my Verizon friends to continue to use my existing cell number and direct all others to gVoice. So then I would have people calling two numbers and using two different vMail services.

Dont get me wrong, gVoice is AWESOME. But is it not going to save you much money, if any. And depending on if you are using in network calls most of the time, could end up costing your friends more minutes to talk to you.

 

[smacky]

This couldn't have gone here?: http://androidforums.com/htc-droid-eris/36162-google-voice-invites-12.html

Seems odd this was made after post#119.

 

[SirBuckley]

That thread, by definition, is for those looking for Invites. This thread was to discuss what I think some realities may be about the service.

Not sure what the post you sited is. But I did not get on gVoice this evening. Had these observations already identified, but refused to be hypocritical and talk about them until I joined voice and verified.

Voice is really cool. Just think some people think they will be able to do away with their wireless provider (obviously the most misunderstood case!)

 

[Pegleg]

Google Voice is a great tool. Especially if you are looking to have one number that will find you anywhere. Some of the other features like the free texting are great,

How does the free texting work? I use GVoice, which I setup via my desktop pc, but only to get voicemails sent to my verizon phone as text msgs. I assume to use the free texting you must setup the alternate GVoice number adn then that number has to be used for texting.

 

[orangepeel]

That thread, by definition, is for those looking for Invites. This thread was to discuss what I think some realities may be about the service.

I can see the difference between the two post.. Anyway,thanks for the explaining the +/- of Google Voice. I've had it for a while,but every time I install the app on my BB Storm it leaks memory like crazy,so I just delete it off. Things like that is the reason I'm interested in Android.

 

[carmendiva]

Hi buckley,

i checked out your thread.

I do agree with most of what you said.

I don't know much about GV and I am looking to learn all I can.

However, I didn't get it to save on mins or bills...i got it just because i am an avid google supporter and I like what they have to offer and would like to try all their services

 

[AirPirate]

Thanks, Sir Buckley for the post. I have had a GV invite for a while, but I am having difficulty figuring out if I should use my existing Eris number or go for the new number... or whether to load the app at all. Since I have an unlimited text plan, that isn't an advantage. I travel overseas extensively and use Skype to communicate with important numbers, so the low calling rates aren't a big advantage either. Many of my friends and family use Verizon, so no minutes are used for those calls. I like Google and the new technology, but I guess I need some of you smart people to explain one more time, the advantage of obtaining a new number over using my existing number and the advantage of using the app for Verizon "In Calling" customers.

 

[rdalev]

When I signed up for GV, I elected to use my current number issued by Verizon and not get a new Google number, so does any of this apply to someone like me ?

 

[mpaquette]

GV saved me $10 a month because I was able to ditch my Verzion text message plan. So, uh yeah, I got excited about GV.

 

[smacky]

The thing is, there is a workaround to make it give you free calls. You just add your Google number to your ten free calling people things.

 

[aleis]

The thing is, there is a workaround to make it give you free calls. You just add your Google number to your ten free calling people things.

good one!

 

[doogald]

I use Google Voice for the following things:

1. When I am traveling and will be away from home for a while, I forward the home phone to my Google Voice number, wo calls will be redirected to my cell.

2. I have Google Voice set up to handle voice mail for my cell phone. When VMs come in, it transcribes the call and sends an email to my gmail account, which I get right away.

3. If I need to make an international call, I will use Google Voice for it - it will be cheaper. (I haven't needed to do that yet, but at some point I will.)

4. When I need to provide a phone number when doing online shopping or whatever, I give the Google Voice number. I have GV set up to screen callers who block caller ID, so (hopefully) there will be fewer junk calls at home going forward.

I think GV has some great features, but calling to avoid minutes was really not what I started using it.

 

[dhrandy]

I mainly use GV for 2 things, texting and for receiving calls on 3 phones (work cell, work desk, and eris). It's still great.

 

[SirBuckley]

Just found yet another great application for gVoice. I do not have nationwide long distance on my home phone. But I have unlimited minutes on it. When at the gVoice home page, I click on call, put in the number, and have it call me at HOME, the phone rings at my house from gVoice (a local number) and connects me to through gVoice to the long distance number. I now have nationwide LD at my home for free!

 

[hrbib21]

I use Google Voice for the following things:
2. I have Google Voice set up to handle voice mail for my cell phone. When VMs come in, it transcribes the call and sends an email to my gmail account, which I get right away.

This is the only reason I use it and for me it's a major one. I cannot make/receive cell phone calls at work but texts/emails definitely.

 

[xjken]

-You will not get around your calling plan making outgoing calls. Even calls though google voice will use your minutes.

Isn't this the other way around?? When you dial an outgoing call, you select "call with google voice" and it makes the call over the unlimited data plan 3G network. I thought it was the incoming calls that use minutes because g-voice is essentially forwarding the call to your cell number. Correct??

So if this is the case, I will save many minutes by using gvoice to make all my outgoing calls during peak time.

 

[Kevkelsar]

Isn't this the other way around?? When you dial an outgoing call, you select "call with google voice" and it makes the call over the unlimited data plan 3G network. I thought it was the incoming calls that use minutes because g-voice is essentially forwarding the call to your cell number. Correct??

So if this is the case, I will save many minutes by using gvoice to make all my outgoing calls during peak time.

Calls are not data, the texts sent to your GV number and texts you send through your GV number come in and go out from your phone as data. Calls are calls. However, as was stated, if you have a plan that allows you do the Friends and Family, add the "sudo" number your phone calls when making outgoing calls from your cell AND your GV number to the Friends and Family. That way, anyone who calls your GV number will not use your minutes, and all outgoing calls will not use your minutes.

I LOVE GV, been using it for two months and haven't had to pay for a single text.

 

[xjken]

wow, that sucks then...

 

[SlickRick]

I have no bars at home, I rely on pots for long distance (we live in bum-f Eygpt). And my google phone will save me $ on that! And texts.

 

[SlickRick]

Just found yet another great application for gVoice. I do not have nationwide long distance on my home phone. But I have unlimited minutes on it. When at the gVoice home page, I click on call, put in the number, and have it call me at HOME, the phone rings at my house from gVoice (a local number) and connects me to through gVoice to the long distance number. I now have nationwide LD at my home for free!

What he said!

 

[W4LLY]

My Google number isn't tied to me at all. I made a second number that I will use as my "office" phone. It also is great for sending creepy text's to my friends who don't know the number yet.

It only works when 3g/data/wi-fi is on...so I don't see how the text's i sent would count towards my text plan (I have unlimited texting anyway..just curious)

 

[refthemc]

Google Voice is....

All I use GV for is the Voicemail. It's better then the regular Verizon voicemail IMO. I especially love the transcribed voicemail text I get with each message.

 

[Howie]

you can also go to voice.google.com on the PC or Android browser and tell GV to place a call. It will dial your regular number first and the incoming call with be your GV number (so would be free if that GV number is in your Friends & Family).

 

[karib]

So I just got GV. I think I have it set up to get free texting. Have tested it on a couple friends and they did recieve the text with the GV #. Problem is that they don't recognize the number and that its from me. What is the best way to resolve this? I didn't see any way to insert a signature... or is there a way to re-route it using my own #? Any way that I can use it with handcent? This is kind of confusing for me so any info would be great! Also, when they reply, I get two notifications, one sms and one gmail, is that normal/correct?

 

[ErisDroid?]

Google voice is more of a receptionist. GV re-routes you calls to any number you have set up. It will use your minutes. To get around that download Skype, it's free and will soon be available over the 3G network.

As for re-routing the text messages, there is not a way to do that, or add a signature. You can't add a signature because that will use some of the allowed 160 characters.