Google Voice Open to All Now

[SeattleYanksFan]

For those still waiting for an invite...

Google Voice now open to the public -- Engadget

...enjoy.

 

[mrempp]

No more invite required, head over to voice.google.com

 

[necosino]

Aw, you beat me to it, lol..

Read a story about it here

 

[jamor]

Good find! I was lookin for one of those..

 

[aarn660]

well how do i join exactly?

 

[TPR300C]

To join go to www.google.com/voice I just registered mine!

 

[rapidsandroid]

Just remember, that a GV # is outside your network so it counts against your minutes both ways. Recommend you add GV # to your Friends & Family to avoid going over your minutes.

 

[colnago]

...will celebrate when they provide trunk and SIP services.

 

[aarn660]

quick question about google voice. are all my voicemails forwarded to google voice, even if they call my verizon number and not my google voice number?

 

[jayjay1122]

Aw, you beat me to it, lol..

Read a story about it here

Yeah and I just gave away three invites last week like they were the keys to fort knox!!! LMAO!!!!!!!!

 

[palomosan]

What exactly is google voice and how does it help? sorry about the question but I want to make sure I understand.

 

[colnago]

What exactly is google voice and how does it help? sorry about the question but I want to make sure I understand.

There are numerous threads on the Android forums if you want details, but in a nutshell, it provides call management and messaging services. It does not provide "calling service" in the traditional sense.

One can avoid using cellular minutes by adding the Google Voice number to a "friends-family" plan, and routing your call through a cellular line or land line via the Google Voice app/number...much like using a calling card.

 

[SeattleYanksFan]

What exactly is google voice and how does it help? sorry about the question but I want to make sure I understand.

As cheesy as it may be, this video explains it quite well:

YouTube - What is Google Voice?


Basically, it's a free phone number you can link to all your other numbers so you can give people just one number to reach you no matter where you are.

You also get free visual voicemail.

It "tries" to translate voicemails into text so you can read them rather than listen.

Etc.

Etc.

I've had GV for months but haven't really used it yet other than to play around with some features. I did get a prank call once by some punk kid who left a voicemail. GV tried to translate it to text, but failed miserably. I think it's because the kid tried to fake an asian accent, which also failed miserably. Who knows?

Eventually I'll make use of it, as it's got some pretty sweet features considering it's free.

And it works seamlessly with Android.

 

[syntrix]

quick question about google voice. are all my voicemails forwarded to google voice, even if they call my verizon number and not my google voice number?

You have the option to do one or the other.

Personally I forward all to GV VM, and have it email me the transcription.

Use *71 + 10digitGV number to forward your unanswered normal cell # calls to GV VM.

use *71 and your 10digit cell phone number to use VZ VM.

Once GV app is installed, there is a clickable setting:

Menu -> Settings -> Call

Here you will see the Voicemail Service and Voicemail Settings option.

 

[aarn660]

Thanks for the help with the voice mail question. Helps a lot.

 

[necosino]

And also: Free texting!

 

[banshee2008]

It's not exactly easy, but you can also use Google Voice in conjunction with fring (or other SIP client), sipgate, and sipsorcery to get free VoIP calling.

 

[actofgod]

I no longer feel special

So far just using this for voicemail on my regular cell number, definitely diggin it.

 

[Ginge]

All of a sudden I see the 917 area code for New York City available. They must have just opened up... they were impossible to get.

 

[FramCire]

I think you have to pay attention when dialing out with google voice that it uses a different number to call out and you need to add that number to friends and family as well. I will know for sure on next bill. (I added both numbers to friends and family)

 

[syntrix]

I think you have to pay attention when dialing out with google voice that it uses a different number to call out and you need to add that number to friends and family as well. I will know for sure on next bill. (I added both numbers to friends and family)

Your recipient has to pay attention if they want you in their FnF. Some areas, you won't dial out with your GV number, you (personally on your cell) dial out to your GV number, but the call is routed publically out of GV's system with the GV exchange number. This is shown to you when you use the GV application and initiate your call.

Or simply: Caller ID on the receiving party may not see your GV number, but another Google Number.

 

[NightAngel79]

http://googlevoiceblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/google-voice-for-everyone.html

no need for invites anymore

 

[NightAngel79]

delete

 

[AHanks12]

Don't get me wrong, I think it's awesome that GV is available to everyone now but I do feel just a bit slighted by this. Previously, having a GV number put you in somewhat of a "club" (for lack of a better word). Now that luster is gone and it just doesn't seem as glamorous.

 

[rapidsandroid]

Is there a delay in connecting calls or receiving SMS since the # is being "bounced around" (yea, that the technical term. lol)? How is the actual call quality?