G+_Joel G. J Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 Can someone explain why i should/should not get a Google Voice #? With the new MMS feature and Jason Howell raving about it so much, why are people raving about it. I heard Jason on the stream explain it, but I need a refresher. I'm currently under a Family plan with Unlimited Talk, Unlimited Text and 500 MB of Data on T-Mobile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 Get it. Why? --- Well I can only tell you how I use it. 1. It's a single number that can ring all your other phones. That means you can switch carriers as much as you want and have the number follow you without porting. It also means you can ring your cell, your desk phone, and your desktop at the same time. 2. You can send and receive text messages through Google voice. That means I get a notification on my browser when I receive a text of my phone... and I can reply without having to pick up my cell phone. 3. When I get a call and I'm sitting at my computer, I answer it on my computer instead of my phone, so I don't have to use my minutes or data on my phone. 4. Now that I can make VoIP calls with voice/hangouts, I have the T-Mobile $30/month plan with 100 mins voice/unlimited text/5GB 4G(unlimited 3G). I've never gone over my minutes and I'm saving more than $80/mo from my old plan. So yeah... I kinda like it. :) Peace, Padre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Jason Howell (raygun01) Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 What Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJsaid. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_George Turner Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 Works on IOS too. I picked up a free iPone 3 from FreeCycle. Makes for a nice Hangouts device. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Joel G. J Posted October 11, 2014 Author Share Posted October 11, 2014 Just got it. Got an easy memorable last 4 digits. Is it free btw other google voice #'s no matter which country you are calling from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Jacob “Jake” Bowen Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ how much data are you using for voip calls? Once you go over the 4g do you drop to hspa+ or 2g? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Ben Reese Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 Joel J I'm not entirely sure, but I think Google Voice is only available in the US. All calls to US numbers are free if you're calling from a computer. If you're calling from the phone, you're using regular voice minutes unless you've got a SIP service they you're using or your making a Voice Hangouts call to another Hangouts account. I could be wrong, but I don't think Hangouts can call PSTN lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 I call PSTN lines all the time.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Ben Reese Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 From Hangouts voice? Interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Joel G. J Posted October 11, 2014 Author Share Posted October 11, 2014 I meant as a US user traveling through countries, could a person call that person traveling with no charge? ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_George Turner Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 You could probably use a VPN service hosted in the US while you are travelling outside the US. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Ben Reese Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 It sounds like it depends on the world traveling thing. I know you can use your Google Voice number to make cheaper intonational calls, but I'm not sure if that's just leaving the US or if it's to the US too. Padre said he's able to call land line/cell numbers on mobile using Google's VoIP service, but I haven't had the same experience. GrooveIP used to use Google Voice to make VoIP to PSTN calls on Android, but Google blocked them out - I think when they switched away from XMPP for those voice calls. If you just want to make calls from your computer than I am 99% sure you would have no problems internationally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Ben Reese Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 One other option might be Magic Jack. It seems like they have an Android app and $35 per year (is that still the price?) is pretty affordable. There are also a few free SIP services available. I don't know what restrictions they might have, but it's certainly an option. Maybe opportunity for a Know How episode about VoIP/SIP/Asterisk PBX? Eh, Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ? This is a project that I've been thinking about just for the experience.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_John Mink Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 Having text messages appear on my PC is reason enough; cause really, why would I wanna user my phone if in already at my PC. But on top of that, voice mail is much cleaner! Instead of having to place a call every time you want to check your messages & then navigating via the telephone interface ('7' to save & '9' to delete), this gives you the messages just like audio files. The caller ID is clearly presented & you just push play/pause/delete as needed. Also you get a hilarious transcription which is almost, but not quite, totally unrelated to the words the caller said :p But yeah, it's nice :) Oh, and now all of that is in hangouts which is great if you use that to chat anyway! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_John Mink Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 That said, I really need to figure out how to do the whole getting/placing calls on my PC?/Tablet They added that feature to the hangouts extension on chrome! Wooo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Joel G. J Posted October 14, 2014 Author Share Posted October 14, 2014 Although on caveat of the Hangouts app is MMS over Wi-Fi does not work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_John Mink Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 Joel J really? facepalm at Google... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_James Berry Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 I use google voice so I don't have to give out my personal cell number. The google voice number rings to my cell and I can dial out using the voice interface. I have a local number and retain some small measure of privacy too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Ben Reese Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Woah!! How did I not see this before? https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.hangoutsdialer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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