Official Avail. Nov 13th - Android 4.2 - LG Nexus 4 - Asus Nexus 7 - Samsung Nexus 10

[sygyzy]

Why would you ever port your number out of Google Voice? I can understand porting it to GV.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Why would you ever port your number out of Google Voice? I can understand porting it to GV.

B/c after I do that, I will port the number on my current phone(which I've had for 10+ years) to GV. The reason I'm transfering the current GV number to ST is b/c I'd like to keep it around as it has the local area code which I believe is very difficult to get now.

 

[SEAL62505]

B/c after I do that, I will port the number on my current phone to GV.

You can have two #'s in Google voice. Not sure if that helps you. Just make sure the 2nd one you port is the one that you want to show up on caller ID for everyone.


I think $20 to port in + another $20 to have two numbers in GV.

 

[cronos]

You can have two #'s in Google voice. Not sure if that helps you. Just make sure the 2nd one you port is the one that you want to show up on caller ID for everyone.


I think $20 to port in + another $20 to have two numbers in GV.

This is correct. I have done exactly this.

You port your number in for $20, and then you'll have the option to keep the old number for another $20. You get 60 days after the port in to decide if you want to keep the previous GV number, if you don't pay the second $20 after 60 days, then you'll lose it.

 

[ponyo]

Finally get my N4 and N10 tomorrow morning, been so busy I haven't yet ported my current GV number to ST. Will do that tonight.

Make sure you first unlock your Google Voice number so you can port out. It's locked by default to prevent people from randomly porting it out.

 

[Red Storm]

Make sure you first unlock your Google Voice number so you can port out. It's locked by default to prevent people from randomly porting it out.

Eh? How's this done? I think I need a step by step guide to getting my GV number working with Straight Talk...

Should I bother porting my number over? Or should I just take whatever number they give me and then forward my GV to it?

 

[vshah]

Eh? How's this done? I think I need a step by step guide to getting my GV number working with Straight Talk...

Should I bother porting my number over? Or should I just take whatever number they give me and then forward my GV to it?

just do this...what's the downside?

 

[Red Storm]

just do this...what's the downside?

None that I can think of...

 

[SEAL62505]

None that I can think of...

I think the downside comes when you aren't using an Android phone.

Sending texts and making calls can't be done through the native iPhone or Windows Phone apps (or maybe it can, but i doubt as seamless as when the actual number is ported to the phone)

 

[Capt Caveman]

Thanks for all of the info guys!!!

Ok. I didn't realize needed to unlock my GV number and know how to do that now. I also didn't realize that I can have two GV numbers.

Now, if I port my GV to ST now, I'm going to have to wait a couple of days for it to occur. But if I just open a ST now and I'll be able to use my N4 tomorrow.

Please let me know if I'll be able to do this:

1. Open/buy ST account and get ST number
2. Port Current cell # to GV
3. Once 2 has been completed, port original GV # to ST

While 3 is occuring will I still be able to use my newer GV # on my N4?

 

[ponyo]

Eh? How's this done? I think I need a step by step guide to getting my GV number working with Straight Talk...

Should I bother porting my number over? Or should I just take whatever number they give me and then forward my GV to it?

Port your number out of Google Voice

 

[ponyo]

Thanks for all of the info guys!!!

Ok. I didn't realize needed to unlock my GV number and know how to do that now. I also didn't realize that I can have two GV numbers.

Now, if I port my GV to ST now, I'm going to have to wait a couple of days for it to occur. But if I just open a ST now and I'll be able to use my N4 tomorrow.

Please let me know if I'll be able to do this:

1. Open/buy ST account and get ST number
2. Port Current cell # to GV
3. Once 2 has been completed, port original GV # to ST

While 3 is occuring will I still be able to use my newer GV # on my N4?

You can but I believe you need another sim card for the #3. It's easy to port number into Straight Talk. They're fairly quick and usually done the same business day. Porting out of Straight Talk is trickier and takes longer. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[sygyzy]

Caveman, I am very confused about your setup. Let me explain a few scenarios which should cover everyone, including Red Storm.

Scenario A:

1. You are currently on Verizon (it doesn't matter who the carrier is) and you have a phone number that you love. You also have a GV number.
2. You decide to go pre-paid and don't want to end up in a situation where you lose your prized number.
3. You port the number to GV. At this point your number because your new GV number. For another $20 you can keep your original GV number.
4. Anytime you go sign up for a new plan/service now, you dont care about the number assigned to you because you will just have GV forward to it.

Scenario 2:
1. You have a number with Verizon but you dont really care about the number. You have been giving everyone your GV number as your primary.
2. You go switch providers and get a new number. Who cares, you just go in and forward again.

 

[Red Storm]

Thanks sygyzy, makes sense after I realized I can always just forward to the next phone/number regardless of carrier. Less hassle and no risk of losing my number!

 

[ponyo]

Caveman, I am very confused about your setup. Let me explain a few scenarios which should cover everyone, including Red Storm.

Scenario A:

1. You are currently on Verizon (it doesn't matter who the carrier is) and you have a phone number that you love. You also have a GV number.
2. You decide to go pre-paid and don't want to end up in a situation where you lose your prized number.
3. You port the number to GV. At this point your number because your new GV number. For another $20 you can keep your original GV number.
4. Anytime you go sign up for a new plan/service now, you dont care about the number assigned to you because you will just have GV forward to it.

Scenario 2:
1. You have a number with Verizon but you dont really care about the number. You have been giving everyone your GV number as your primary.
2. You go switch providers and get a new number. Who cares, you just go in and forward again.

I went with scenario A. I have two Google Voice numbers. I do not know my Straight Talk number.

 

[dagamer34]

I think the downside comes when you aren't using an Android phone.

Sending texts and making calls can't be done through the native iPhone or Windows Phone apps (or maybe it can, but i doubt as seamless as when the actual number is ported to the phone)

Google Voice only works like its designed on Android where apps can take over default system functionality for making calls and sending text messages. Plus, Google shares no love for other platforms (then again, why should they?).

I prefer using Skype because there isn't any phone number porting involved and it works over WiFi as well.

 

[sygyzy]

Thanks sygyzy, makes sense after I realized I can always just forward to the next phone/number regardless of carrier. Less hassle and no risk of losing my number!

I went with scenario A. I have two Google Voice numbers. I do not know my Straight Talk number.

I haven't personally taken this approach ... I only use GV to handle my voicemail. However, my friend (who has a habit of switch carriers/plans), has done this for years. Like Ponyo, he doesn't actually know his real phone number. The more I think about it, the more I realize this is the way to go. Just use Google Voice and forget about anything else. Don't do what I do and try to remember two phone numbers and give one out to some people and another (GV) out to a different set of people. Also, never worry about your prized phone number getting somehow "locked" by a carrier or "lost" because you didn't initiate the porting in time.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Caveman, I am very confused about your setup. Let me explain a few scenarios which should cover everyone, including Red Storm.

Scenario A:

1. You are currently on Verizon (it doesn't matter who the carrier is) and you have a phone number that you love. You also have a GV number.
2. You decide to go pre-paid and don't want to end up in a situation where you lose your prized number.
3. You port the number to GV. At this point your number because your new GV number. For another $20 you can keep your original GV number.
4. Anytime you go sign up for a new plan/service now, you dont care about the number assigned to you because you will just have GV forward to it.

Scenario 2:
1. You have a number with Verizon but you dont really care about the number. You have been giving everyone your GV number as your primary.
2. You go switch providers and get a new number. Who cares, you just go in and forward again.

Thanks for clearing some things up. But my scenario is that I would like to keep my current GV # and use it as my ST # and keep my current AT&T number which I would like to port to GV.

Ponyo - I believe has answered my concern and I will just port my current GV #(after unlocking) to ST.

Sorry for all of the questions, I'm a big noob about this stuff.

 

[lothar]

My nexus 4 and nexus 10 shipped.

Don't forget to post a picture of it in the epic Nexus 4 thread when it arrives.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2286040

 

[lothar]

Thanks for clearing some things up. But my scenario is that I would like to keep my current GV # and use it as my ST # and keep my current AT&T number which I would like to port to GV.

Ponyo - I believe has answered my concern and I will just port my current GV #(after unlocking) to ST.

Sorry for all of the questions, I'm a big noob about this stuff.

Why do you want to even port to Straight Talk at all?
Just keep both numbers with Google Voice on your Google account, let Straight Talk assign you whatever number they want to assign you and be done with? You don't ever need to know your Straight Talk number or give it out to anyone.

With Google Voice, both numbers will remain yours and you don't have to ever worry about losing your number if you get cut by Straight Talk.
With what you're trying to do, if Straight Talk cuts you off for any reason(excessive data usage, forget to refill for the month, etc...) at all, you will lose your number permanently.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Why do you want to even port to Straight Talk at all?
Just keep both numbers with Google Voice on your Google account, let Straight Talk assign you whatever number they want to assign you and be done with? You don't ever need to know your Straight Talk number or give it out to anyone.

With Google Voice, both numbers will remain yours and you don't have to ever worry about losing your number if you get cut by Straight Talk.
With what you're trying to do, if Straight Talk cuts you off for any reason(excessive data usage, forget to refill for the month, etc...) at all, you will lose your number permanently.

Like I said, I'm a noob at this. This makes sense. Thanks!

edit - as mentioned by RuffRyder if I port over my AT&T number, my original GV won't be shown on Caller ID if I use it which is something I may want. More food for thought.

 

[sygyzy]

Capt Caveman - you're in a unique position where you *love* both your GV number and your "traditional" number. That's pretty rare, but like lothar and others have said, get them both into GV and never worry about this again.

 

[lothar]

Like I said, I'm a noob at this. This makes sense. Thanks!

edit - as mentioned by RuffRyder if I port over my AT&T number, my original GV won't be shown on Caller ID if I use it which is something I may want. More food for thought.

Which one do you want to show on your caller ID, your current AT&T one, or your current Google Voice one? Whatever number you port to Google last is what will appear on the Caller ID.
Pick one and we'll work from there to recommend what to do next.

If you want your AT&T number to be the one to show on the Caller ID : Do this exactly as outlined in the two posts here.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=34302246&postcount=1429

If you want your "old" Google Voice number to be the one to show on the Caller ID : I think you may have to port that number out to another carrier, port your AT&T number to Google, then port that old Google Voice number back to Google after the AT&T one.

I'm not an expert at this since I don't have 2 Google Voice numbers in my account, but perhaps others can correct me if I'm wrong?

 

[dagamer34]

Don't forget to post a picture of it in the epic Nexus 4 thread when it arrives.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2286040

Comes tomorrow. Will definitely add to the lulz pic.

 

[vshah]

just thought of one downside of porting your primary number to gvoice - no more MMS unless you go to sprint and enable their crazy link-up, and even then I believe you can only receive mms from sprint subscribers.