Google Voice -- anyone have it?

[Chordata]

I'm intrigued and would love an invite if you have it.

http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html

[toef]

I'd like an invite too. I signed up for it about a week ago, and maybe one day they'll let me in. Apparently the voicemail transcription thing doesn't work perfectly, and there are some websites/blogs/forums that show examples of what Google Voice thought the voicemail message said.

Oh, and I'd like a Wave invite too, if anyone has one.

[Chordata]

toefer, I signed up at the same time. If I get an e-mail, I'll PM you.

[toef]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

toefer, I signed up at the same time. If I get an e-mail, I'll PM you.

K, same here. I just checked my mail, but still nothing.

I think I'm getting into Wave though, so if you are interested in that, let me know.

[ManUtd]

I've had it for a couple months or so now. IIRC, it takes a couple of weeks before you get the invite.

[xtop]

been using it on my phone for months. its freaking awesome

i'll check to see if i have any invites in a bit. usually takes less than a week to get one from google tho

[toef]

Originally Posted by xtop

been using it on my phone for months. its freaking awesome

i'll check to see if i have any invites in a bit. usually takes less than a week to get one from google tho

I'm not even sure what it really does, but I know setting up separate voicemail messages for different people calling is something I've always wanted to be able to do, so I can be an a** to my friends, but nice to family.

[xtop]

Originally Posted by toefer

I'm not even sure what it really does, but I know setting up separate voicemail messages for different people calling is something I've always wanted to be able to do, so I can be an a** to my friends, but nice to family.

sorry, out of invites, must have been thinking of google wave.

but yeah, the free texting alone is what makes it so great

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by ManUtd

I've had it for a couple months or so now. IIRC, it takes a couple of weeks before you get the invite.

Do you have any invites left? I'm sure toefer and I would greatly appreciate one.

[toef]

O_V_N, did you get your invite?

I got mine this morning, and I think we signed up around the same time. If you still need one, let me know, and I can see if I can invite people.

Edit: It appears that you can't invite anyone.

[SatinKzo]

You can still do invites. I have 1 left if someone wants it.

[toef]

Originally Posted by SatinKzo

You can still do invites. I have 1 left if someone wants it.

Where do you find the invites?

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by toefer

O_V_N, did you get your invite?

I got mine this morning, and I think we signed up around the same time. If you still need one, let me know, and I can see if I can invite people.

Edit: It appears that you can't invite anyone.

Toefer, yes, I got it on the 19th, too. Did you do the full-blown Google Voice thing, or just do the smaller version where you keep your number? I did the latter.

I agree --- can't find any way to invite anyone.

[toef]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

Toefer, yes, I got it on the 19th, too. Did you do the full-blown Google Voice thing, or just do the smaller version where you keep your number? I did the latter.

I agree --- can't find any way to invite anyone.

I did the full-blown with another number, under the assumption I could still do the other stuff with my existing number. If not, I guess that was a bad move, but I haven't really gotten around to trying it out much yet.

Edit: I just set up the voicemail transcription for my real number, and that was the main feature I was looking for, so that's good. The new number I picked is somewhat similar to my current number (the last 4 digits are the same), but is across the country (it's an LA number, and I live in NY). I may never use it, but given the option to take one, I figured why not?

[toef]

O_V_N, how is GV working out for you?

So far, I don't like it.

The transcribed voicemails were the main feature I was looking forward to, so I set that up to work with my original number.

Now what happens when someone leaves a voicemail is I get a text message saying I have a new voicemail. Then I get an email with the transcribed voicemail, and a link to listen to it.

If I listen to it, it's an mp3 file that my phone has to download, and then open using any of the media players on the phone.

Such a hassle to listen to a voicemail.

Is it like that for you, or is it only because I chose a Google number?

I wish the voicemails still showed up like they used to on my phone, so I could listen to them, but also know that I'd eventually get the transcribed version in my email. The whole text message ---> email ---> mp3 thing is a bit frustrating.

[SatinKzo]

Originally Posted by toefer

Where do you find the invites?

For me, it's on my main screen, left column on the bottom.

I wasn't overly keen on GV and didn't use it much, but now I have an android phone and GV integrates pretty seamlessly. Love it when I want to make a call to someplace new and if I ever get a return call to my GV number I can just block them. Saves me from everyone I call with my cell finding out my cell number.

The main thing we use GV for though is an emergency contact number for the kids school and babysitter. We have it setup for calls from those places get routed to both cell phones and the home phone.

[toef]

Originally Posted by SatinKzo

For me, it's on my main screen, left column on the bottom.

I wasn't overly keen on GV and didn't use it much, but now I have an android phone and GV integrates pretty seamlessly. Love it when I want to make a call to someplace new and if I ever get a return call to my GV number I can just block them. Saves me from everyone I call with my cell finding out my cell number.

The main thing we use GV for though is an emergency contact number for the kids school and babysitter. We have it setup for calls from those places get routed to both cell phones and the home phone.

Yeah, the GV application on Android works really easily, but the voicemail problem is probably going to convince me to stop using it, unless there's a quicker way to listen to voicemails.

[BStecke]

There is a lot of information out there about Google Voice, and it's kind of overwhelming. I currently have a Nexus One, which of course comes with Google Voice. I've set it up and pretty much just use it for visual voicemail, which is pretty cool.

My question is, what else can you do with this thing?? I can't seem to find a single source of good information about the possibilities, and really the ultimate point, of really diving into Google Voice. For instance . . . I port my number to Google Voice. Does that mean my service with T-Mobile is cancelled? Typically, a port means you're canceling service with one and going to another.

Any suggestions and discussion is really appreciated, as I keep reading about how revolutionary this thing is, yet I can't seem to find any place that really tells me why.

[toef]

Yeah, it is a bit confusing, but some of it's confusing because there are two ways to set it up: either use your existing number, or get an entirely new Google number. The method you choose affects which benefits are available to you (using a Google number includes all the features of using your own number, PLUS a number of other ones).

Both require that you still have an actual cell phone plan with some sort of company.

Other useful features, besides visual voicemail:

-setting different voicemail messages for every person that calls you (act like an idiot in the message your friends hear, sound professional when business contacts call, have something nice for when your mom calls, etc)

-block calls (create a list of numbers that won't be allowed to call you)

-voicemail transcriptions (they can email you your voicemails... results are iffy)

The reason that you can't cancel your cell plan is that Google Voice runs off your data plan. You can use Google Voice to avoid using your minutes, but the value of that really depends on your carrier and/or plan.

I think Google is somewhat aware of the confusion about G Voice, because I remember reading the other day that they made an all new video explaining the features.

Try www.google.com/voice

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by toefer

Yeah, it is a bit confusing, but some of it's confusing because there are two ways to set it up: either use your existing number, or get an entirely new Google number. The method you choose affects which benefits are available to you (using a Google number includes all the features of using your own number, PLUS a number of other ones).

Both require that you still have an actual cell phone plan with some sort of company.

Other useful features, besides visual voicemail:

-setting different voicemail messages for every person that calls you (act like an idiot in the message your friends hear, sound professional when business contacts call, have something nice for when your mom calls, etc)

-block calls (create a list of numbers that won't be allowed to call you)

-voicemail transcriptions (they can email you your voicemails... results are iffy)

The reason that you can't cancel your cell plan is that Google Voice runs off your data plan. You can use Google Voice to avoid using your minutes, but the value of that really depends on your carrier and/or plan.

I think Google is somewhat aware of the confusion about G Voice, because I remember reading the other day that they made an all new video explaining the features.

Try www.google.com/voice

I set mine up without a cell phone and it seems to work fine.