Google Voice setup
 

Hey guys so I got a google voice invite and had some questions for it. Now do you guys use your same number or use a new number. Are there disadvantages and advantages to one or the other????

Re: Google Voice setup
 

Use the GV number when you dont want people to have your real number. I use it for contacting people on craigslist or a few loons on sprintusers.

Re: Google Voice setup
 

haha ok so the gv is good for loons

Re: Google Voice setup
 

Here are some thoughts:

1. It might be wise to give your google voice number out to particular categories of people. This way, if you set your GV Account to "replace" the caller ID data of calls forwarded to your mobile phone, you'll have an idea of what type of call is coming in.

So, you might give your GV# out only to select friends who you talk to a lot. Or, you might give your GV# out only to potential business folks.

2. In case you don't know (some might not know this), you can add your GV# to your calling circle. So, you would set your GV Account to replace the caller ID data for calls forwarded to your mobile. This way, you will get unlimited minutes for people calling you.

3. At one point (maybe still), your GV Account is set up by default to require callers to "speak" their name before the call is connected. If you want a more seamless experience for callers, you can turn this off.

.02

Re: Google Voice setup
 

I also use it for craigslist, isnt it great

Re: Google Voice setup
 

I switched to it as my primary number over six months ago and haven't looked back. I love the added convenience of GV and just keep watching and using as it gets better and better. The one major thing that may hold others back from doing this is the lack of MMS. I've been using a PPC on Sprint for years (for a long time there was no official MMS) so I'm not missing anything there.

Re: Google Voice setup
 

so when you make your choice is it permanent??? Like can you choose to use your number then later on decide a google number?

Re: Google Voice setup
 

When you setup GV you'll pick a number. You'll have to give people number to get the most benefits from GV (Call screening, integrated texting from web interface with complete history online, etc).

However you can still get benefits from their voicemail service without changing your number. You can set your current phone to forward to GV VM instead of your carriers VM. This will allow you to get email or SMS copies of your VM in a transcribed form. This is really useful for reading your messages without having to listen to them (although the transcription is not always perfect you can usually get a good idea of what the message is about and whether it's worth listening to or not).

Re: Google Voice setup
 

i switched over about 2-3 months ago. the only real thing i dislolike is the fact that there is no official google voice app. i use gvo but you cant dial recent numbers straight from your call log. but i love google voice. i used the google voice number

Re: Google Voice setup
 

This is a good point. I keep meaning to purchase GVdialer, but just never got around to it. (I've been reflashing my phone too much).

Re: Google Voice setup
 

My GV number is set to forward to my 2 cells and home number. I give this to anyone I want to be able to contact me anytime, anywhere (close friends, family, etc.). For people and companies that need to contact me, but I don't always want to be bothered by them or want to be able to more easily screen and block calls, I give them my cell #. This just works more easily for me.

Re: Google Voice setup
 

iContact will access your call log.

Re: Google Voice setup
 

I give the same # to everyone. I have the default settings for GV to forward only to my cell. I then have groups (Family, Friends, Co-Workers, Business Contacts, Crap) that have their own call forward settings. Friends and Family forward to cell, home, and gizmo. Co-Workers and Business contacts use default settings (for now), and Crap (bill collectors and spam) doesn't forward to any phones and goes straight to VM.

This allows me to not have to think about what number to give out and I get even more control. If I give the number to BB and they call me for surveys every week I add the number they call from the the crap list and I NEVER have to be bothered by them again. It's truly the best of both worlds.

Re: Google Voice setup
 

is there a way to maintain caller id (from the original caller) and still add your google number to your friend/family (unlimited calls) plan? (see google voice setting below)

Caller ID (in)
*Display caller's number
*Display my Google Voice number

it doesn't seems possible... in that case don't you guys find it a problem losing caller ID when doing that?

Re: Google Voice setup
 

Anyone here have an invite?
PM please.

Re: Google Voice setup
 

Google's still being stingy with GV invites. I only got three and they went fast.

Re: Google Voice setup
 

Sweet!! Didn't realize I could do this!! THANKS!!