Too Many Phone Numbers? How to Consolidate With Google Voice.

Are you one of the many frustrated people with more than one phone, multiple carriers, business and personal, different accounts … etc.?

If you can relate, I am sure you don’t like the idea of having to carry the 2 phones to answer calls either. I have 2 phones with different carriers, one is CDMA and the other is GSM, see my previous post on the difference between CDMA and GSM.

Google came up with a Google voice- a brilliant solution to give you the ability to receive phone calls from both phones on either device, without having to use the forwarding feature and pay more money to your service provider.

All you need is a Google account to get started.

First, go to Google voice and log in with your google account information.
Search for the number you’d like to use. Your first Google number is FREE. After the first number you’ll have to pay a fee so choose wisely. You can search for available numbers by area code, city, zip etc. regardlesss of your actual location and some area codes may not be available. Follow the steps on the screen to set up the number.
Once you pick your number, it is associated with your Google ID. You can log in to www.google.com/voice and check the settings,and add your phone numbers (any carrier, USA Cells Only). Once done, now you can start using your Google number. Give this number out to whomever you want, when they call you, you will receive the call on your cell. It’s like having 2 numbers assigned to the same device.

The nice features about this whole setup is that you can receive the calls to your Google number on any phone number you add to the Google account. You can set your Google Voice to forward calls to a specific number/device at a scheduled time or day in the week, you can also set your phones to ring all simultaneously, you can block numbers and many more customizeable options. If you make international calls, you will love Google rates because they are 90%+ less than what your carrier will charge you, and the sound quality is very good, no lagging or back noise whatsoever.

Google voice also supoprts text messaging. You can send a receive text messages from your Google Voice account to any mobile in the US free. Messages received can be viewed on any phone on in your Google Voice account. You can even set your voice messages to be forwarded as an email to either phone. Pretty cool, huh?

Currently there is a Google Voice app for the iPhone, Palm, and Blackberry. Other phones will need to access Google Voice using the phone’s browser. I find it extremely useful to love having the ability to get all numbers consolidated into one that I can manage from any device I have. Best part is, it’s free!

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