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Originally Posted by Rusty914s
Does this work with mobile phones?
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Yup, just set up your mobile as a "backend" number that GV forwards to. In fact, there's 3 types of forwarding numbers (Home/Work/Mobile). Only "Mobile" #'s get SMS messages forwarded, obviously. Although you can choose to also get SMS's sent to the GV # as an email anyway.
You can forward calls to a mobile or a "real" landline - or even a SIP ATA, or a SIP softclient on a PC/smartphone. There just has to be a US DID in front of the SIP because it won't let you use a SIP URL or a non-US number...
The idea is that you have your "published" number, and any number of forwarding lines behind it that ring when the published number is called.
Which is useful when you've got a number you've had for a long time/everyone knows. You simply set up a new phone service as a forwarded number - but don't tell anyone the new numbers; not only is there no need to - because the original # still rings your phone(s), but this gives you the freedom to swap SIMs/providers whenever you feel like it.
So not only does your number not change, now incoming calls all go through the GV screening/filtering etc.
When (not "if"
) whoever is providing the "published" number ticks you off, you can port it into GV permanently for a one-time $20 fee. (obviously, you can test the service with a Google-assigned number before you do this step).
For mobiles, I like no-contract BYOD plans (for example, Straight Talk re-sell "unlimited" T-Mobile service for $45 a month).
The ObiHai SIP ATA ($39 to buy from Amazon and you're done - no fees) works great with both Google Voice and SIP. Simply plug any POTS gear into the RJ-11 on the back. Very easy to set up and Just Works.
Some carriers get really pissy about porting numbers to Google Voice. Like Vonage will refuse outright. The trick then is to port it via T-Mobile (possibly via a pre-paid SIM), and then to Google Voice.
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Excellent info, did no know about it. Thank you.
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Heh. There's a bunch of other neat features. You can record a call, for example. Voicemail can be set to email you a transcript (often useful, sometimes hilarious) and the WAV.
Or my favorite: Switch. You take an incoming call on your desk phone, start chatting to a buddy and then realize you have to (say) go out and mail something. Hit the magic key (*), all the phones registered to the GV number will ring again. Simply pick up on another phone and hang up the one you answered first... Lather rinse repeat.
It's not without foibles. It'll drop a call at exactly 3 hours. Which can be irritating on 4+ hour change window calls. And sometimes it can be a little funky. But it's incredibly useful, not to mention having saved me $1000's over the last 5-6 years, so it's hard to get too excited.