southrncomfortjm wrote:But when I call out from my cell when I am away from my house, will they see my GV number? Or, to show my GV number, would I have to use data. I think you answered that as "no data usage and they see your GV number" but I want to be sure.
I understand. Here is exactly what you want to know:
Method 1: Google Voice appIf you download and install the Google Voice app, it can integrate with your dialer and prompt you whether to use your cell or GV number. I just screencaped from my own phone just now to illustrate:
* Pros: Works pretty much like placing a regular call.
* Cons: Due to "The Issue" (see below), you need to have called them at least once when your phone has data, whether wireless, 3G, LTE, etc. This is just a quick hit to the GV servers. It doesn't make it a VOIP call and doesn't place the call over your data line.
Method 2: Call your own Google Voice numberIf you call your number, you get options to check voicemail, etc. One option is to place a GV call. You then enter the number you want to dial and from then on it's like you called them directly, and it uses your GV. This is how a lot of long distance calling cards used to work.
* Pros: Doesn't need any data ever. Can use from any phone you can call out on, be it hotel room, loaner cell, office, etc.
* Cons: That extra step of calling into your own number.
Method 3: Initiate a call from the webSo when I'm at work, I have access to the internet at my workstation but not to the wireless for my phone. If I want to make a GV call, I don't even pick up my cell. I pop open GV in the web browser, type the number, and have it ring my desk:
In case you're wondering, that's my dentist's office. That screencap shows my Nexus 4 is selected, but you can have it connect with any phone you can confirm you own. In that case, GV central calls your phone first then connects you to the other person.
* Pros: It's quicker to do this than unlock my cell phone, start the dialer, and dial.
* Cons: It's not bad but surely it could be better.
Now here is "The Issue":
How GV appears to work via cell network is that it assigns an intermediate forwarding phone number for each real phone number you dial. Example: You are using Method 1 and you want to call Mr. Wasson. Because I KNOW you guys are buds!
1. SoCoJm dials 1-800-DAMAGE.
2. GV app intercepts and asks if you want to use GV. SoCoJm says "Yeah".
3. GV app appears to hit GV central and say "Yo, I need a GV number for 1-800-DAMAGE". GV returns 1-800-867-5309.
4. GV app dials 1-800-867-5309, which calls Google, which connects you to 1-800-DAMAGE and shows Wasson your GV number, ala forwarding.
5. The next time you call him, you appear to be able to skip step 3.
6. But if you call DMJIFN, GV app has to go get another intermediate GV number for you.
If you use SMS, this becomes really obvious. If you SMS 1-800-DAMAGE, Wasson sees a text from your cell and you get texts back from 1-800-DAMAGE. If you SMS 1-800-867-5309, Wasson sees a text from your GV and you get return texts that say "1-800-867-5309 SCOTT WASSON".
Maybe they will or have started changing how this works. But if you have no data - this is what you get. I've been stuck in the middle of rural Michigan with roaming voice only and gotten by just like this.
There's a lot to hate about GV, IMO. Explaining to people how I sometimes don't get MMS correctly is annoying. VOIP feels like cell service from 10 years ago. But otherwise, it does alright making good on the promise to have one number ring everywhere.
One thing that I hope really stands out is how fiddly all this is when all you wanted to do is make phone calls and send texts.