Looking for advice on switching over to Google Voice! :D

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’ve had a google voice account and number for a long time now, but I’ve never used it. I read about the service, but I don’t grok how it all works. I’ll be activating the smartphone I got off eBay in the next week (all thanks to **Voltaire **for all his guidance in helping me pick one!), so I’d like to figure this out ASAP. My phone is an Android, specifically the LG Optimus T, if that affects anything. I *do *really like the number I picked out–it has my nickname in it, so it’d be easy for me and family members to remember. And if I ever change my number again in the future (I have to get a new number for the plan I’ve chosen), then I could keep using the same number via google.

That said, I have some specific questions, but I would welcome random advice as well! Here goes:

When google voice transcribes voicemail, does it happen automatically, or do I have to tell it to do so? Will this service use up my phone minutes, my texts, or my data plan? I’m not concerned much with data use, since the plan I’ll be getting includes unlimited data (with up to 5 gigs at 4g speeds, which I’ll realistically never consume in a month). But I *am *concerned about minutes, because I only get 100. I talk on the phone very rarely (only for emergencies or necessary transactions), so the limit won’t be a problem given my normal rate of minutes-usage. Would using google voice risk putting me over the 100-minute limit?

As I understand it, another benefit is that your google voice number will ring multiple phones, if you set it up that way. I don’t have a home phone, just my cell phone, so that is a non-issue… *however, *would it be possible to set up google voice as a repository for my cell phone’s voicemails, and then check my voicemail from a landline (say, my work phone)? This WOULD be nice, because I could save all my cell minutes for non-voicemail calls. But I don’t know if it works that way.

I would really like to know how the black/whitelisting functionality works. Can I set it up so that google will text me every time I get a call, but only actually send through the caller when I get a call from a number in my address book? Basically, I’d like the ability to send all unknown/non-whitelisted numbers straight to voice mail, while sending me a text message at the same time.

2

Everything GV does is through the data network…voicemails, texts, CM transcription, etc…

The transcription is automatic, though i think there’s an option to turn it off…I can’t tell you where it is, because I keep it on. AFAIK, no, there is no way to “dial-in” to your GV voicemail from another line, however, you can check your voicemails and texts from any computer (that has internet access,) by going to Voice. But again, checking a voicemail from GV doesn’t use minutes anyway.

I’ m not sure about white/black list functionality, I’ve never used that.

I will say one thing, though…like a lot of Google services, the backend (ie, all the syncing it does between server and phone) is really nice, but the front end (the actual app and web interface) aren’t great. To get it set up “just right” you’re going to have to go into settings on both the phone side, AND the website, which IMO is just clunky programming.

Edit: And personally, I don’t care for that phone you have…I must have missed whatever thread you asked for suggestions. It only runs Android 2.2 (current version is 4.0, though 3.0/3.1 was skipped for phones,) but that still puts it TWO major software revisions behind (2.3 and 4.0,) and odds are it will never get to even 2.3. It’s over a year and a half old, so the hardware is pretty out of date as well. And such a tiny screen! I had an iPhone and that was too small for me…that screen looks even smaller! (Though I understand some people don’t mind smaller phones.)

Though from the way you described you’re plan, I’m taking a shot in the dark and guessing you’re on T-Mobile’s 100 minute plan, non-contract, so if need be, you can always buy an unlocked phone, pop in the SIM, and be good to go with a better one.

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Thanks for the tips! I am fairly used to accommodating google’s gmail crappy web interface (they wouldn’t let me disable conversations, and their default spam filters pissed me off, but I created workarounds in Thunderbird). Hopefully it’s not too hard to do the same for GV.

I definitely appreciate knowing that all the stuff GV does is over data! I will probably give it a shot then, and see how it works out.

You guessed the right T-mobile plan (the pay-as-you-go 4g plan for $30 a month). It’s the cheapest, but has the highest data allowance in exchange for the smallest number of minutes. It’s absolutely perfect for me, since I talk so little.

When I bought this phone, I was just looking for the most cost-effective way to enter the smartphone world, *without *being locked into a contract. I’m really sick of the candy-bar RIZR dumbphone that I’ve had for like… 3 years now? Anyway, I *really *like the Optimus! I definitely think it’s the best option of all the others I considered. I’ve just been using it over wifi so far, since I haven’t activated it yet. But anyway, cost was my primary concern. I couldn’t afford more than $100, and I *really *didn’t want to be locked into a contract anymore. So I did a lot of research into ratings and reviews, and bought a gently-used smartphone from an older generation. It was only $75 on eBay, and it is basically perfect for my needs.

I will definitely upgrade to a better phone eventually, but not until I feel this one has become insufficient for my needs. I can understand how someone using a modern smartphone with the Gingerbread OS would see an Optimus as a major step down, but consider where I’m coming from. I’m making a major step UP–from a dumbphone with no data or QWERTY keyboard to a lower-mid level touchscreen smartphone with a 5-gig allowance every month. It’s like Christmas in June over here! :smiley: It’s been a really long time since I was excited by the prospect of a telephone, so I’ll take what I can get.

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The only thing I don’t like about GV is that you can’t get MMS through it unless you’re on Sprint. They say they’re working on that though.

You can do this, but you’ll only get a text if you have voicemail transcription on and they leave a VM.

5

Also, if you wanted to keep your current number you could port that to GV for $20.

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And (to complete my post padding), you can do this, but only from phone numbers you have set up in GV. So you can add your work number but not have it ring for inbound calls. You can also see transcriptions and listen to the VM through the GV app on the cell (using only data).

7

Hoo boy, lotsa questions, and I see you’ve already got a few answers, but some of them are wrong, so I’ll go over your post point for point.

Yes, I believe the transcription is enabled by default. If you view (or listen to) your transcribed voicemails through the GV app, then it will use data. Of course, if you do that through wifi, than it won’t count against your data limit. But you can also access the same stuff through your computer, without having to use your phone.

It depends on how you use it. If you forward calls that go to your GV# so that it rings on your regular cell phone number, then yes, of course that will use your voice minutes, because you’re still using your cell phone to receive calls. If you don’t forward calls from GV to your cell phone, and just use it as a voicemail box, then no, it won’t use minutes. But if you do want to be able forward calls from GV to your cell phone, but you don’t want to use minutes, you CAN do that with an app called GrooveIP which routes the calls from GV to your cell phone through the data connection. With your phone being 3G, it probably wouldn’t work too well through data, unless you were on a wifi connection. With a good wifi connection, the quality can range anywhere from great to poor, depending on a lot of factors.

Yeah, for sure. It’s simple - just add your work phone number in the “Phones” tab under the settings. As long as you don’t check the box next to it, it won’t forward calls to that number. Now, when you call your own GV# from that number, it will recognize that you’re you, and will allow you access your account, listen to voicemails, or even place a call through GV.

Yep, that’s all easily doable under the “Groups & Circles” tab in the settings. Just turn off forwarding for everybody except all your contacts, or some other predefined contacts group, like Friends & Family.

8

Thanks to everyone for your informative informations! Voltaire saved the day, not unexpectedly. I’m going to go ahead and use Google voice.

I *have *to get a new number to use this particular plan through T-mobile (it’s only valid on new activations). Although frankly, I’ve been wanting to get a new number for a while anyway. I’ll be much happier and more willing to look at my phone after several lamewads no longer have a chance of calling me. Like, I’m hoping that sensation of dread I currently get anytime my phone rings will go away almost completely.

The only questions I still have are: is there any reason to commit my phone’s physical phone number to memory? I shouldn’t give it out to anybody at all, right? And can I register my home address through GV in case of a 911 call?

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I think there is some confusion about what google voice is, and what it isn’t.
What google voice usually is:

  1. A SEPARATE phone number that can get text messages and phone calls (at that number).
  2. Text messages can be read and replied to via the google voice app on a phone, or on your web browser.
  3. Phone calls to your google voice number are forwarded to your other phone numbers, and if you pick up, you use minutes on whatever phone you pick up from.
    If you don’t pick up, calls to your google voice number get sent into their system.
  4. In the normal sense “calls” through google voice from your cell phone/home phone are essentially a call from you to google voice, and then another call from google to your destination - thus using minutes on whatever phone you call from; but just regular domestic minutes.

What google voice also is:

  1. A replacement for your voicemail service, at your EXISTING cell phone number, on supported carriers (T-mobile prepaid, not one of them). This replacement voicemail works if your cell phone number is direct dialed.

In normal usage, you would give out your google voice separate phone number, and you would get your texts and voicemails via google voice. Calls directly to your cell phone number would get your cell phone voicemail. Texts directly to your cell phone number would show up under your cell phones “messaging” app rather than google voice.

But, there are some special scenarios that can alter the normal flow that might be confusing you:

  1. On Sprint postpaid, you can have full integration with google voice such that your google voice number is your cell phone number. Essentially texts will all be available via your google voice account, and no need for the “forwarding” set up above.
  2. It is possible to make and answer calls using google voice directly, using data and not minutes, with some special apps and workarounds (not just the normal Google Voice apps). I believe GrooveIP is one of those. With those apps the calls essentially go Cell Phone->Internet (data) -> Google Voice->Destination Phone number, and the reverse for incoming calls.
10

No reason to memorize your phone’s actual number if you don’t plan on giving it out. You can always look under “Settings” “About Phone” “Status” to check what your number is, if you forget it.

BUT, one thing you may want to be aware of is that if you place a call directly from your cell phone, other people will see the actual phone number. If you want to avoid that, you can use your cell phone to call your GV#, then use GV to dial the number you’re calling. That’s a bit of a pain, since you have to remember and enter the number you’re dialing manually. The other way would be through the GrooveIP app I mentioned previously, but you would need an adequate data connection to make use of that.

As for the 911 thing, since it’s not tied to any actual physical phone, there’s no way to directly associate GV with an address. There are ways, if you have one of various devices that tie internet/phone connections to GV, but there is no way to do it through GV itself. In case of emergency, you will want to go through the Tmobile website and set up your address info, so that calls to 911 made directly through your cell phone will be tied to your location. Though, if you have GPS on your phone enabled, I believe that the 911 operator would be able to see your location, anyway.

11

Good point on the outbound caller ID issue. I will have to figure out a permanent solution for that (I suppose one of the apps mentioned, unless they involve a fee). If I’m going to use GV, I seriously don’t want anybody dialing my cell phone directly except 911. I’ve been getting spam texts at my current phone number (I have no idea how, since I never text anyone outside my address book & have never given it out for commercial purposes). T-mobile doesn’t let you block unwanted numbers, for whatever dumb reason, so the whitelisting features of GV are seriously appealing.

If nothing else, I suppose I can give family and close friends my direct cell phone number and give the GV number to businesses and work and such. That would involve memorizing 2 numbers, but it’s one possible solution for my outbound caller ID not matching up with my preferred inbound number.

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The GrooveIP app costs ~$5 to purchase, after that there are no costs to use it as often as you want. But again, you need a good data/wifi connection in order to use it. Otherwise, in order to avoid your real cellphone number showing up on someone’s callerID when you call them, you’ll have to dial your GV# and place the call through there manually.

As for spam texts, welcome to the world of smartphones. There are lots of apps out there - some of them not very scrupulous - that require the “View contact data” permission. What this means is, if someone you know has you in their contacts on their smartphone, and they have an app that reads their contact data and sells/uses that info to spam people, you can get spam texts without even being the one with a smartphone.

One of the nice parts of the Google Voice app is that you can mark a text as spam, and it will delete it, and block future texts from that source. I believe if enough people mark the same text sender as a spammer, then Google will eventually block them from sending texts to anyone, similar to how it works in email. This is yet another advantage to only giving out your GV#, so that that’s the only number of yours that people have in their phone’s contact list.