Google Voice question

[ahendric]

I have had an invite for months but I don't know which option to chose. I don't need the texting as I have the unlimited family plan. Does anyone have any personal experience they can share? Once I make the decision I should have some invites to spread around.

Thanks
Andy

Posted from my Droid.!.

 

[FootballRef]

I only use the voicemail part of my GV account. I just like the way it works and I didn't have to give out my GV phone number, it works with your existing number.

I have no idea on having invites.

 

[plant]

there is no downside to getting a GV number, it just adds extra features if you choose to use them.

 

[takeshi]

Discussed many times before here and on other sites. There are features that can only be used with a GV number. You don't have to use the GV number if you don't want to. You can also switch if you've already made a choice and want to change options.

 

[ahendric]

Yes, I have read those, although they devolve into 'I need an invite'...I was hoping for some individual practical experience from people who chose the two different options: new google voice number or google voice with your existing number. I can read what the differences are, but I was hoping for something a little more practical.

Thanks,
A

 

[legalkill]

Choosing the Google number gives you all the options choosing use your number would. It gives you the same voice mail. Having a google number however just adds the total functionality to the account. There is no downside to having the google number and not using it for all the features. If you understand the features and may use it someday, just get the full number.

 

[bastosero]

Well, I'll give my point of view on this matter since I use Google Voice quite often. I only use GV for the voicemail feature and to use it for international calling. I didn't choose the one where I get to have a new phone number from GV. I'm still using my regular phone number. I didn't feel like paying Verizon for the extra voicemail feature that they have, so I chose GV's voicemail feature when I received an invite. It works pretty well and has a lot of options for it. The other main feature that I use it for is for international calling. Since it probably has one of the lowest rates, if not the lowest, for international calling, it comes in very handy when I make international calls which I do almost everyday. Just check out their rates online and compare them to others like Skype. It'll show that across the board that using GV's international calling is cheaper. The first time I used the international calling the quality wasn't that good, but over time it has improved quite a bit. I hope this helps a bit.

 

[ahendric]

legalkill and bastosero,

Thanks for the info, this is the kind of info I was looking for. Now I need to dig up the invite email and log on.

Thanks for giving me some practical info.

A

 

[BKS]

Well, I'll give my point of view on this matter since I use Google Voice quite often. I only use GV for the voicemail feature and to use it for international calling. I didn't choose the one where I get to have a new phone number from GV. I'm still using my regular phone number. I didn't feel like paying Verizon for the extra voicemail feature that they have, so I chose GV's voicemail feature when I received an invite. It works pretty well and has a lot of options for it. The other main feature that I use it for is for international calling. Since it probably has one of the lowest rates, if not the lowest, for international calling, it comes in very handy when I make international calls which I do almost everyday. Just check out their rates online and compare them to others like Skype. It'll show that across the board that using GV's international calling is cheaper. The first time I used the international calling the quality wasn't that good, but over time it has improved quite a bit. I hope this helps a bit.

It helps me, as I call Thailand on a regular basis. I requested an invite from Google last week. But as others have stated...who knows when I'll get it

 

[bastosero]

Well, I'll give my point of view on this matter since I use Google Voice quite often. I only use GV for the voicemail feature and to use it for international calling. I didn't choose the one where I get to have a new phone number from GV. I'm still using my regular phone number. I didn't feel like paying Verizon for the extra voicemail feature that they have, so I chose GV's voicemail feature when I received an invite. It works pretty well and has a lot of options for it. The other main feature that I use it for is for international calling. Since it probably has one of the lowest rates, if not the lowest, for international calling, it comes in very handy when I make international calls which I do almost everyday. Just check out their rates online and compare them to others like Skype. It'll show that across the board that using GV's international calling is cheaper. The first time I used the international calling the quality wasn't that good, but over time it has improved quite a bit. I hope this helps a bit.

It helps me, as I call Thailand on a regular basis. I requested an invite from Google last week. But as others have stated...who knows when I'll get it

I wouldn't waste my time on that. You should just wait for one when it's available here. They have a thread here for people asking for an invite, or if you want to get one faster, go to ebay and you can buy an invite. I believe you can get an invite there for a couple of bucks. Just search for Google Voice Invites in ebay.

 

[bastosero]

legalkill and bastosero,

Thanks for the info, this is the kind of info I was looking for. Now I need to dig up the invite email and log on.

Thanks for giving me some practical info.

A

I also have unlimited texting so that's also one of the reasons I didn't choose to get a new number from Google Voice and just use my regular number. Currently, GV doesn't support international texting, yet. So, I didn't bother getting a new number for that. It was also buggy in the beginning because some people were complaining of texts being delayed when they receive them from others. If and when they support free international texting, then I might choose to get a new number from GV and dump my unlimited texting from Verizon.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I text internationally with Google Voice (to Peru) every day (about 1800 a month). I haven't tested other areas in the world.

From what I read - Google Voice help files says that it doesn't support international texting - but it does. The forums do show that some international locations don't work but most do.