Google Voice Question

[nomarsgirl]

Sorry if this is dumb. My contract was up with my cell carrier and I have a phone provided by my employer that I don't pay for. I ported my personal number to google voice and selected my work phone as the forwarding number. It was just activated today. I ran a test by calling my personal number from a land line, but my phone didn't ring. Google Voice does show a missed call from that number. How can I get it to ring? Do I have to keep the Google Voice app open at all times?

I like the idea of having one phone with both numbers. Now I can keep personal calls and texts separate from business calls and texts and I am able to keep the mobile number I have had for over 10 years. I just need to figure out how to make it work the way I want it to.

Also, if I use my Google number to dial out, will I be billed? I have unlimited calling with the work number, but friends/family don't answer because they don't recognize the number.

 

[nomarsgirl]

I think I just got the first call on it and it rang. It was a wrong number, but it rang.

 

[Mikestony]

Hiya!
No such thing as a dumb question
But I have a question...if your old phone and phone number are no longer, wouldn't your old phone number be history also? I mean, won't it get assigned to someone else in the future?

 

[Clementine_3]

I use Voice Choice for outgoing calls, it automates GV dialing. You select which numbers should use GV and which should use your carrier number.

Are you looking for a way to bypass your work phone bill for calls or just trying to get your GV number to show on caller ID on the other end? If it's the former there are ways to do it and if the latter then the app I suggested will do it.

 

[nomarsgirl]

I use Voice Choice for outgoing calls, it automates GV dialing. You select which numbers should use GV and which should use your carrier number.

Are you looking for a way to bypass your work phone bill for calls or just trying to get your GV number to show on caller ID on the other end? If it's the former there are ways to do it and if the latter then the app I suggested will do it.

Thanks. I really just want my GV number to show on caller ID. Also, is there a way to have two separate voicemails? Can I use the carrier one on the phone number and GV on calls to my GV number? That way work callers get the professional greeting and friends/family/personal calls get the "hey I'm not here leave a message" greeting. The number was just ported today so text messaging is not working yet. I was told to expect that to take 3-5 business days. Can I use hangouts for texts to the GV number and the carrier app for texts to the cellular number?

I used to carry two phones, but I don't want to pay for 2 phones. I will check out Voice Choice. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[nomarsgirl]

Hiya!
No such thing as a dumb question
But I have a question...if your old phone and phone number are no longer, wouldn't your old phone number be history also? I mean, won't it get assigned to someone else in the future?

When the contract ended, the phone (and number) went to month to month. I could cancel at any time without paying the ETF. I ported the number to Google Voice (you pay a one-time $20 fee to port the number). Now it is mine forever. And porting the number automatically cancels the service, so now I don't have to pay for that line anymore. Husband and daughter are still on the family share plan, but I no longer count.

 

[Clementine_3]

For voicemail, you can set up personal greetings and default greetings in GV. I have a generic greeting for most calls and a few personalized ones for different friends and family members.

I've not changed them in a while but you have to set it up online. It used to be easier but you will need to assign a contact to a group (I use their name) and then assign the greeting for that group (name) in GV online settings (under the groups/circles tab). The default greeting is done under the voicemail and text tab. Once set up it works like a charm.

For texts, yes, you can keep them totally separate. Just use the GV app and whatever SMS app you have. Don't have GV texts forwarded to the carrier, that's in settings online too. I *think* AT&T allows for MMS in GV now, Verizon doesn't. That's the only real GV issue I have.

 

[nomarsgirl]

For voicemail, you can set up personal greetings and default greetings in GV. I have a generic greeting for most calls and a few personalized ones for different friends and family members.

I've not changed them in a while but you have to set it up online. It used to be easier but you will need to assign a contact to a group (I use their name) and then assign the greeting for that group (name) in GV online settings (under the groups/circles tab). The default greeting is done under the voicemail and text tab. Once set up it works like a charm.

For texts, yes, you can keep them totally separate. Just use the GV app and whatever SMS app you have. Don't have GV texts forwarded to the carrier, that's in settings online too. I *think* AT&T allows for MMS in GV now, Verizon doesn't. That's the only real GV issue I have.

Great! Thanks! The work phone is on AT&T. I'll poke around in the online settings. Already downloaded voice choice and selected the contacts to call directly from Google Voice. Are there additional features in the paid version that make it worth $2.99? I have no problem paying for an app to support a developer, but I do expect added value.

 

[Clementine_3]

Extra Features not found in free version:
-Group Filters: specify gmail contact groups to be filtered - set it and forget it
-Pattern Filters: specify area codes or conference bridge numbers to be filtered
-SMS: let Voice Choice automatically help you send text messages with/without Google Voice (may not be compatible with 4.4 KitKat)
-Free calls: add your Google Voice number to your provider's free call list(Verizon F&F, myFaves, etc) and use Voice Choice to make all calls through your GV number. (Make sure your voicemail inbox is empty or all messages are marked as "read") Can toggle feature on/off in settings
-Quick dial: Make a quick one time call to a number as though it is on your Voice Choice list. Simply add a '+' at the end of the number before dialing. Feature is off by default, see settings menu to turn it on.
^^^^From the description in VC

I bought it so long ago I couldn't remember. lol. I think you'll love it once you get it all set up and coordinated with the settings in GV.

You can combine GV into hangouts, I did but may actually separate it back out again. HO's still needs some refining to make everything work the way I want it to.

 

[dan330]

I have done what you wanted. with google voice.
google voice needs to use google hangouts.. and also google hangout dialer.

when you setup hangouts.. you have to confirm the number it connects to.
it will try to use your Phone's number... edit it and change it to your google voice number.

to make and take in coming calls.. you will need to download.. google hangout dialer.

you have to log on to google voice website on a computer.. and go through setup to change how Voice handles your incoming calls.


I just read that Google Voice has added in MMS ... but cant figure how to use it yet.
http://phandroid.com/2014/10/06/google-voice-mms-support-now-available-for-more-than-100-carriers/
when I test it out.. the pics get routed to my Gmail.
before today... it worked the same way.. MMS from android phones go to Gmail. but from iPhones don't come in. today at least I now get MMS from iphones too, but still to Gmail.


note: google voice and hangouts uses DATA... they use the internet to send and receive all communications. this will use your carrier data allowance when not connected to wifi.

 

[Crashdamage]

Just to be clear, Google Voice, when *not* used with Hangouts, does not use data, it uses cell minutes.

 

[dan330]

google voice..

when someone calls your number and leaves a voicemessage or text.. it is a normal non-data call.

when you get SMS or respond to SMS.
read or listen to your messages.
so when you interact with your google voice account.. it is all data

 

[Mikestony]

When the contract ended, the phone (and number) went to month to month. I could cancel at any time without paying the ETF. I ported the number to Google Voice (you pay a one-time $20 fee to port the number). Now it is mine forever. And porting the number automatically cancels the service, so now I don't have to pay for that line anymore. Husband and daughter are still on the family share plan, but I no longer count.

Ah, got it and thanks

 

[heebs79]

There is a native setting in the google voice app that will use your GV number for all outbound calls. Open the GV app then go to Settings>Making calls>Use google voice to make all calls. Then you can use the native dialer and the calls use your GV number and go over normally and don't use the data plan.

 

[nomarsgirl]

There is a native setting in the google voice app that will use your GV number for all outbound calls. Open the GV app then go to Settings>Making calls>Use google voice to make all calls. Then you can use the native dialer and the calls use your GV number and go over normally and don't use the data plan.

Thanks, but I don't want to use GV for all outbound calls. I want to use the cell number for business calls and GV for personal calls. Ideally, I want to keep my work and personal stuff completely separate - on one phone.

I was thinking of downloading another dialer. Maybe I can choose to use my GV from the alternative dialer and the cell number from the native dialer. That would be the easiest for me. Of course, I'm not sure how/if that would handle using Google Now and just saying "Call Mom".

 

[dan330]

i have it set..

phone dialer and carrier number for business

Google voice/hangouts/hangouts dialer with google number for my personal

have it ring differently...

 

[Crashdamage]

Use Voice Choice, as Clemintine_3 already suggested.

 

[Clementine_3]

I want to use the cell number for business calls and GV for personal calls. Ideally, I want to keep my work and personal stuff completely separate - on one phone.

A tip or two.
Voice Choice has a quick call thingy that you can force the call to use your list by adding + at the end of the number. So if you have GV set to make all calls but want to use your cell number for a number not in contacts/VC add the +. That's a paid feature and had to be activated through settings.

Also, GV will never kick in if you don't use the area code. That's an important thing to remember.

Between GV and VC you can do exactly what you want, you just have to set it up, get used to it and remember to use the + and/or area code tricks.