whats stopping you from using google voice as your main number

[uli2000]

I used it more when I had a plan that had Friends and Family/A-list type free numbers. My current VZW family plan is the lowest one and I dont have F&F anymore as I don't want to pay for way more minutes that I will never use. Plus, last time I used it for SMS, it showed it was from some number diffrent from my GV number, sometimes I would have a text exchange with someone and it showed 3-4 different numbers for me. This may have changed, though, as this was back in the Grandcentral/early GV beta days.

 

[thescreensavers]

I just use it for voice mail

 

[masterxfob]

i started using it as my main number a while back. i like that you can forward calls to multiple lines, and that you can playback voicemails without having to call in. once in a while someone tries to send me an mms, but they can email me it if it's important.

 

[palswim]

When someone texts your GV number (and that message is forwarded to your phone), you get a number from some other area code right? (like 617 or 406 or something). That's essentially a 'hash lookup' associating your phone number with that contact. I'm pretty sure you can call that number directly.

True, but I can only get that if someone texts me, right?

 

[Red Storm]

The hassle of getting all my contacts to reach me at my GV number keeps me from switching over entirely. I only used it for some texting and voicemail.

 

[Anubis]

for me its because i fail to see a reason why i would want to

 

[Silenus]

Much the same as many others. Basically the only reason I'm holding back is lack of MMS.

 

[JS80]

I don't think I've ever sent 1 MMS ever

 

[MotionMan]

Much the same as many others. Basically the only reason I'm holding back is lack of MMS.

What am I missing about MMS?

MotionMan

 

[Anubis]

What am I missing about MMS?

MotionMan

if you aren't a teenager you aren't missing anything

 

[MotionMan]

if you aren't a teenager you aren't missing anything

I suppose the lack of MMS would cut down on one's sexting activities?

MotionMan

 

[dpodblood]

Not available in Canada.

This.

 

[Gooberlx2]

True, but I can only get that if someone texts me, right?

Yeah, I don't know how you'd look it up otherwise. The GV app on Android shows the number briefly when using it to dial out.

 

[zerocool84]

I suppose the lack of MMS would cut down on one's sexting activities?

MotionMan

I'll send my uncle or brother or sister a pic of something that I want them to check out. I don't send MMS all the time but it's still handy to have.

 

[s44]

I'll send my uncle or brother or sister a pic of something that I want them to check out.

They don't have push email?

 

[hanoverphist]

What am I missing about MMS?

MotionMan

not much really, unless you like sending pics to friends/ family. i send a bunch usually, sometimes its just weird stuff i come across in the world, like a face in an inanimate object, cool patterns in something. my kids doing dorky stuff and whatnot.

if you aren't a teenager you aren't missing anything

im an adult and i enjoy sharing pics with friends and family. i think youre mistaken on the validity of sending/ receiving pics.

I suppose the lack of MMS would cut down on one's sexting activities?

MotionMan

ive never sexted (or cybered), so im not sure its a requirement or missed feature if you cant send pics...


mms are fun sometimes, annoying others (like the stupid ones forwarded from that jackass at the office) but are hardly that big of a deal. it wouldnt keep me from using my gv number as my main if i decided i wanted to

 

[MotionMan]

I'll send my uncle or brother or sister a pic of something that I want them to check out. I don't send MMS all the time but it's still handy to have.

So you won't switch to GV because of something that you do not use all the time but is handy to have?

Can't you use MMS from your phone for those rare occasions even if you use GV as your main number?

MotionMan

 

[zerocool84]

So you won't switch to GV because of something that you do not use all the time but is handy to have?

Can't you use MMS from your phone for those rare occasions even if you use GV as your main number?

MotionMan

I use Voice but just for voicemail. I don't want to have to send notices to everyone for a new number change. Just too much of a hassle.

 

[AstroManLuca]

- It would cost $20 to port my existing cell phone number
- If I don't port, I'd have to tell people my new number
- I'd have to tell my family and friends to send pictures via email or to a different number, which is dumb because there's no way they would remember (not that I get many MMSs)
- It depends on having a good data connection which I don't always have.
- I don't use voice minutes nearly enough to justify any amount of hassle. My Sprint plan has 1500 shared minutes, which is the minimum, and so many calls end up being free that I never even come close to using them all up.

Google Voice should be renamed Google Voicemail. It's great for that but for everything else it's not useful (unless you have very specific needs that it fulfills).

 

[randomlinh]

No MMS. Though, I'm on Sprint and it seems if I port my number over, it should work. However, what if I leave Sprint? Then I'm stuck again. Don't want that.

Flaky call quality. It's been a while since I've really tried to give GV a chance, but the few times I do, I feel like calls using my phone are still better quality.

Loss of any mobile. Someone noted if you integrate, and call out, your GV number will show so you can use any mobile still. But what about incoming?

However, I basically use GV as a second line to give out. Phone number for store cards and such.

 

[MotionMan]

No MMS.

How much do you use MMS?

MotionMan

 

[Nvidiaguy07]

For me, I personally don't use it too much, and have other ways of sending pics, but I get them sent to me sometimes. Sometimes its a pic from a girl, and I wasn't having a convo with her before she sent it. If I hadn't received the mms, she might have thought I was ignoring her or something.

 

[Anubis]

- I don't use voice minutes nearly enough to justify any amount of hassle. My Sprint plan has 1500 shared minutes, which is the minimum, and so many calls end up being free that I never even come close to using them all up.

.

this is what i assume keeps most from doing it

hell i have a 400 minute plan and don't even use 1/3rd of that. everyone i know just sends txts or emails

i tried to get VZW to lower my minutes so i could pay less. they weren't too keen on that idea

 

[QueBert]

I set up GV to forward to my main line, but it was just too slow to actually forward my calls. People would constantly say "I let it ring like 6 times and you didn't answer" and all I had heard was 1 1/2 rings on my end. The idea's cool but it just doesn't work well for me.

 

[randomlinh]

How much do you use MMS?

MotionMan

It's not really a deal killer, but I use it every few days probably on average. I don't want to send it from a different number either because I prefer some sort of consistency on giving out my number to friends and family. I tend to receive more than I send out though. Why not use email? MMS is still more universal to me as not everyone has a smartphone.

The deal killer was losing my any mobile minutes. But it seems that might be resolved w/ this Sprint-Google integration. But honestly, I'm still not sold on how well GV actually works in terms of routing calls and hindering call quality.

If I go android, I'll go back to it's main draw for me, visual voicemail.