For context, many of the blog posts on this website are only targeted toward travelers and nomads, but Google Voice is useful for everyone. You can live in a single city and never travel, travel only domestically, or be a world traveler. This one is for all of the above.
What is Google Voice?
Google Voice is a VOIP, voice over Internet protocol, phone service that has existed since 2009. This service lets you make and receive phone calls, send and receive text messages, set up call forwarding, and several other features.
Just as with other VOIP services, you can make calls and send texts not just from your phone, but also from a laptop or a tablet, which makes working more efficient to fit your equipment and needs. As long as you have an internet connection and your device has a microphone and speakers, you can use the service.
How much does Google Voice cost?
Now it gets exciting. The service is free to sign up for and for most of the functionality! It is free if you are making calls or sending texts from Google Voice to U.S.-based phone numbers.
You will need to put funds in your account to make calls overseas. The rates seem reasonable, but if you call overseas frequently, you may want to investigate costs for countries you call the most. They have a rate guide to give you quick answers.
Why do I need Google Voice?
At the core, this service lets you expand your flexibility, management, and phone number usage. For starters, during sign up you can either get a new phone number or you can port your current cell phone number to Google Voice.
Porting your phone number gives you the flexibility to forward inbound calls for that phone number to any new phone number on any new phone plan easily. Or if you are in a place with bad mobile internet and phone service, but home internet or free WIFI are available, you can answer calls in the Google Voice app from your phone, laptop, or other device.
Or if you have an office phone and want calls to ring on it during certain times of the day, turn on call forwarding.
If you cannot answer the phone, you can get notifications for missed calls in the app or by email. Better yet, Google Voice will transcribe voicemails to either read in the app or receive by email.
Or you can listen to and read voicemails in a browser. If it sounds convenient, it is. I can say that as a long-time user, it has made my life easier.
You can also have the number ring on multiple phones, which can be very useful if you are using the number for business. Whoever answers first takes the call.
What devices can I use?
It is virtually unlimited due to the mixture of apps and browser options.
If you want to operate from your phone, there is an app for both Android and iPhone, so you are set with all the bells and whistles. You can make and answer calls and two-way text like normal but through the Google Voice app.
From your browser, you can use a laptop or a tablet for texting, managing voicemail, and other administrative tasks. If your device has a microphone and speaker (or headphones) you can use the device to make calls.
It might be hard to picture working this way but imagine being in the middle of things on your laptop when you need to send a message. You don’t think twice about sending an email or an instant message from your laptop.
Why not a text message from your laptop, especially if you know the recipient is away from a computer? And if you have a link to send or some copy-paste text that is already on your laptop, no need to type it in your phone to send by text. Just use the Google Voice web app.
Can I transfer my Home phone number to Google Voice?
If you still have a traditional landline in your home, or a VOIP home phone provider, at this time you cannot directly transfer your phone number to Google Voice.
But what about indirectly?
Many years ago, I had ported our home phone number to the Ooma VOIP service so we could continue receiving calls on that number without monthly phone service. When I first learned of Google Voice, our home phone the first thing I considered.
At that time, Google Voice only had two options for phone numbers:
- Assign a new phone number when signing up.
- Transfer a cell phone number to your Google Voice account.
So I added a step to solve my problem.
First I bought a monthly-plan cheap phone from Walmart, transferred our home phone number to the new cell phone, and then initiated a transfer of the phone number from the cell phone to our Google Voice account.
It takes around $50 and a little hassle to make it happen, but once it is done you never have to think about it again.
How does Google Voice relate to my Google account?
It is important to understand that you have one inbound phone number associated with your Google Voice account and that you can only have one Google Voice account associated with your Google user account.
If you have multiple Gmail accounts for a few different purposes, Google Voice is associated with each account. For each Gmail/Google login account that you have, you can have one phone number.
My wife has her Gmail account with Google Voice hosting her old cell phone number. I have the same for my old cell phone number.
Not complicated, but it is good to understand what accounts you need to make Google Voice work for your needs.
How do I sign up for Google Voice?
It is easy to sign up for Google Voice and start making calls. Here are a few steps.
Go to the https://voice.google.com/ website and if you are already a Google user, login to get started.
If you do not have a Google account, you will be led through the setup process, which I will not detail here since it changes over time. But be assured, it is a straightforward process.
If you prefer to have a new phone number or transfer your existing number, it is all part of the setup process that is easy to follow. Just be sure to have your phone handy for transferring a phone number so you can complete any confirmation steps, likely through a text to your phone.
This post is focused primarily on personal use of Google Voice, but you can also read about using Google Voice for business. It is part of the Google Workspace offerings that have grown over time.
And now enjoy the benefits of one of Google’s greatest services!
