Google Voice: Everything you need to know about Google’s VOIP
Google Voice provides a free phone number and lets you make and receive calls over the internet. It also comes with voicemail and call forwarding. You can use it on yourAndroid phone, iPhone, or computer. The service is free for personal use when you make calls to the US or Canada, but there are costs for calling anywhere else.
What makes Google Voice compelling is how simple the technology behind the service is. Rather than using expensive carrier cellphone towers and relays, Google Voice works using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). All you need is a stable internet connection, and it’s possible to have a complete phone system at a fraction of the cost you would pay with one of the big carriers.
Google rolled out Google Voice in 2009, and the service has been with us ever since. Here’s everything you need to know about it if you’re considering a Google Voice number.
You must have a Google account and an existing US phone number to use the Google Voice features.
How to set up Google Voice on a PC
Setting up Google Voice on a PC for the first time is simple. Here’s a rundown:
How to set up Google Voice on a phone
Google Voice works on iPhones and Android devices. Here’s how to set it up:
How to use Google Voice
The Google Voice experience is like using your default Android phone app but with more flexibility. Like the phone app, it’s possible to make calls from the Calls tab by typing the number or selecting one from your address book. You can also link your Google Voice line to your mobile number. And when someone calls, you’ll know the exact line they’re buzzing.
When initiating calls, you can display your Google Voice number on the recipient’s caller ID instead of your mobile number. You can also set the number to ring to multiple devices for corporate settings where several people may be licensed to answer the company’s line. For individuals with multiple numbers (such as a home landline, business phone, and personal smartphone), it merges the communication channels, so you don’t have to bounce between numbers and devices.
you may set up and receivevoicemailsvia the app and get a transcript and a recording sent to your email. There’s also a Messages tab for sending and receiving texts through the app using Wi-Fi or cellular data. Messages to US or Canadian residents are free. However, there are fees for calling anywhere else.
You could incur expensive roaming fees if you use Google Voice on your phone outside the US. Check your carrier’s data roaming options before you travel.
How much does Google Voice cost?
For the most part, Google Voice is free to install and use, provided you communicate with US and Canadian numbers using your Google Voice number. Calls to certain remote locations in either country may cost a token of one cent per minute. While Google Voice is mostly free, as with several of Google’s software products, the tech giant makes most of its money through advertising and not through fees and subscriptions. In other words, you’re pretty much paying with your data.
Calls made anywhere else cost money, with per-minute rates that vary between countries. However, the fees are minimal for most regions, costing only a couple of cents per minute. If you plan to call a foreign location, checkGoogle’s handy tool for call ratesand ensure you have sufficient credit in your account for the calls to go through.
Business users can paya monthly feefor each line, starting at $10 per month and going up to $30 per month. This is cheaper than a landline through a giant telco and offers the same service.
Use Google Voice to unify all your lines
Google Voice is another of those fantastic services from Google that’s full of useful features. All you need is an internet connection, and you have a free phone number, complete with voicemail.
If you are located outside the US, there isn’t another way to activate Google Voice. If you’re based in the US and looking for alternative call forwarding options, check out our guide onforwarding calls on US carriers.
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