What exactly Google Voice can do for You?
- When you regularly use two or more phones: Google Voice gives you one phone number for others to have, then letting you fine-tune which phones that number rings to an OCD level. For example, it can let your home land line to ring along with your cell.
- When you dislike voice mail: Google Voice makes it easy to play voice mail audio and integrate into Gmail for even easier access.
- Text messaging: Text messages are organized on the Google Voice site like chat conversations when sent to your Google Voice number.
- When you want annoying calls to be filtered: Google Voice has four levels of filters to resist annoying calls to weary phone hostages. You can activate “Call Presentation” to have every unknown caller say their name to Google’s servers, hear what they’re saying and pick up the call.
- VOIP calling: Google Voice allows you to make an outbound call for free through Google Voice’s web interface to set it to ring your Gizmo number when it’s connected.
- When you make frequent international calls: Google Voice’s rates to international landlines and mobile numbers are said to be competitive and you can call from your own phones.
- Record calls regularly (and legally): You need to hit the number 4 during a call and activate call recording (presently, it works only with incoming calls) which embeds the conversation in your Google Voice In box in a matter of minutes.
A fully integrated Google Voice means free, voice mail SMS, fewer hassles with your improper phone numbers, voice mails that don’t require talk time and much more. It has been rumored that Google is working on offering number portability or integration for Google Voice.
The wild card: number portability
The wild card number portability eliminates three of Google Voice’s biggest barriers to entry:
- Having to call Google Voice and then dial a number which shows up on caller ID
- Having to store and reply to a separate SMS number for each of your contacts so that, again, your Google number shows up
- The time and hassle of getting your contacts to call you at your new Google Voice number, despite the fact that your old numbers are still working
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