My partner and I use Google Voice as a single number that rings all our phones (home, both mobile and both offices) so that if a friend is trying to find us, one number does it. Because it’s another number for friends to learn, it hasn’t caught on.
Now we can port our existing mobile numbers over to Google Voice. It’s not a full port, Google says they’re still working on that. There are a few less features, but still an amazing service. Google Voice Blog:
We’re excited to announce that you now can get Google Voice with a Google number OR with your existing mobile phone number. If you choose to use Google Voice with your existing number, you won’t get some features (like call screening and recording), but you’ll still get many others — including Google voicemail …
More specifically, if you sign up for Google Voice with your existing number, you’ll get:
- Online, searchable voicemail
- Free automated voicemail transcription
- Custom voicemail greetings for different callers
- Email and SMS notifications
- Low-priced international calling
If you decide to also get a new Google number, you’ll get all of the above PLUS:
- One number that reaches you on all your phones
- SMS via email
- Call screening
- Listen In
- Call recording
- Conference calling
- Call blocking
Om Malik suggests, “if Google really wants to disrupt, they should release a service that automatically forwards all our SMS messages to a Google Voice inbox.”
More discussion via Techmeme.