Any Google Voice Users?

[cyfanatic]

I am going to run my Google Voice number as my landline in my house using an Obi 200 device attached to our router. We currently use Ooma for a landline that we never use which costs about $5 a month in fees (taxes and 911 charge). The wife and I like to turn our mobile phones off at night so using a Google Voice number in this way will be free and will allow us to give it to family members who could reach us in the middle of the night if needed. Just curious if anyone has any experiences (good or bad) about using a Google voice number and their services?

 

[dmclone]

I've used Google Voice in a number of ways but none that you described. With that said, I see no reason why this wouldn't work well.

I've had a google voice number since day one. I've had it work with Ooma way back when before they charged and I cared about having a phone number. Then I got rid of Ooma and I have my google voice number going to my cell phone along with my normal cell number. I use the google voice number mostly for marketing type stuff and I made sure that when I signed up for GV I got a different prefix. My prefix is 259 so I pretty much know that anyone called from that prefix is a marketing call.

 

[benman82]

I set my parents up with that exact setup, but also forward the Google voice number to a cell phone. The obi200 has worked really well.
There are some inconsistencies with where voice mails go (sometimes the cell phone, sometimes the home phone, sometimes Google voice), but if you don't forward it you won't have that problem. I certainly recommend that you do it!

 

[cyfanatic]

Thanks for the information. For the time being I just want the security of knowing my family could ring me in the middle of the night if needed so I probably will use it sparingly or only to communicate with family members. I will only give the number out to family so I hope the telemarketing stuff won't be an issue?

 

[NickTheGreat]

I'm also tinkering around with this. I have two kids under 5 and would like a way for them to call for help if something happens.

But from what I've seen with Google Voice, I can't get a local number? Or even one in the 515. Has that changed or was I doing something wrong?

 

[CtownCyclone]

Changed jobs and instead of a company cell phone, they're paying me to use mine. Since I've still got an Iowa prefix, I got a local one and set that up as my number.

Seems to work OK so far.

 

[cyfanatic]

I'm also tinkering around with this. I have two kids under 5 and would like a way for them to call for help if something happens.

But from what I've seen with Google Voice, I can't get a local number? Or even one in the 515. Has that changed or was I doing something wrong?

I have kids that age too and was thinking about this situation for them as well. It would be nice/safe for them to have a home number to call if needed or to call from. I am in the 319 area and there were a lot of numbers available in this region. Not sure about 515 though?

Edit: I just did a search for 515 numbers and came up with quite a few. Some were attached to Grimes, Ankeny, Des Moines or Waukee...although that doesn't matter too much I would guess?

 

[NickTheGreat]

I have kids that age too and was thinking about this situation for them as well. It would be nice/safe for them to have a home number to call if needed or to call from. I am in the 319 area and there were a lot of numbers available in this region. Not sure about 515 though?

Edit: I just did a search for 515 numbers and came up with quite a few. Some were attached to Grimes, Ankeny, Des Moines or Waukee...although that doesn't matter too much I would guess?

I don't know what I saw before, but there are some for 515. That's good news for me.

 

[dmclone]

I haven't played around with it in a while but I think you can change settings so that any number that is not in your address book is prompted, which gets around spam.

 

[cyfanatic]

I haven't played around with it in a while but I think you can change settings so that any number that is not in your address book is prompted, which gets around spam.

Are you saying that I could limit incoming calls to only numbers in my contacts? If so...that would be a very nice feature!

 

[ISUAgronomist]

Are you saying that I could limit incoming calls to only numbers in my contacts? If so...that would be a very nice feature!

I'm pretty sure you can. Same as above, I haven't played around with it recently but I thought there was a way to do that.

I like to use the "Legacy Google Voice" to make changes to the settings as I feel like it had more options that were easier to find.

 

[jdcyclone19]

I have a google voice phone number. I've kept from the times I've used google fi for traveling internationally. When I need to go over seas, I reactive google fi and when I'm done, I port the number back to google voice. Its really nice so we can forward calls and give family members the same number overseas. Haven't looked into google voice for home phone since, might have to do that.

 

[cyfanatic]

I'm pretty sure you can. Same as above, I haven't played around with it recently but I thought there was a way to do that.

I like to use the "Legacy Google Voice" to make changes to the settings as I feel like it had more options that were easier to find.

I ordered the Obi 200 device which will arrive this week...I will have to mess around with the Google Voice settings once I get it set up! I appreciate the reply!

 

[dmclone]

Are you saying that I could limit incoming calls to only numbers in my contacts? If so...that would be a very nice feature!

 

[cyfanatic]

Went ahead and activated my Google Voice number thru an Obi 200 for the purpose of having a landline. So far...works great! Sound quality is very good (better than Ooma as a first impression). I get the concern that 911 doesn't work via Google Voice but we have our cell phones to use in that type of situation. It was a very easy setup...took less than 5 minutes. Now I will start to monitor whether or not we get "spam" calls. I am only giving this number to immediate family members so that should limit the amount of calls from the "business" types.