I have been a Google Voice member since it was an independent company called “Grand Central.” At that time, on the advice of David Pogue, I signed up for the service to provide a way to not miss a phone call.
Beginning my preparation to move to Tulsa, Oklahoma, I decided to setup a new number for the 918 area code. This was easy since I already had a second Gmail account I setup a few years ago when iTunes insisted that it couldn’t continue to use my AOL account as an AppleID.
It was quite different to setup the account as things have changed since 2003 or 2004 when I setup the original account.
The good news here is that I do not need to get new numbers for my cell phones when I move. I can just start using the new number. It works with mobile phones, desk phones, work phones and VoIP numbers. You can customize the settings so that only certain phones will ring during different times of the day/week.
If you have a Sprint account, you can use the option of using your number as your Google number. It is also possible to port a number from another phone company, although that can mean that you need to get a new number from the phone company for the original number to call.
You can also use Google Voice Lite which allows you to use your current number without porting, but only gives you Google Voicemail, International calling, Voicemail transcriptions and custom voice mail greetings. What you don’t get that you get with most of the other plans are Call Forwarding, Call Recording, texting, ListenIN (monitor voice mail), Blocking callers and Conference calling.
Requirements:
• Operating system: Windows XP, Vista, Mac, Linux
• Browser: IE6 & above, Firefox 3 & above, Safari 3 & above, Google Chrome
• Flash 8 and above
Text messages are only sent to Mobile phones.
To see Features in video at to: http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html
In the What’s new in Google Voice Section, they list the Sprint and Number Porting.
It also talks about related items such as Google Voice apps for iOS devices, making calls from within Gmail, how to do “Do Not Disturb”, videos of the top 10 features of Google Voice, how to send SMS to multiple recipients, extensions for Chrome and more.
There is also a section in the Google Voice Blog about how US Service members can call the U.S. for free from their overseas stations. (here).
I highly recommend that you put this into your tool box.
