Let me step back a bit and explain what Google Voice is. Google Voice is a FREE service, which essentially converts your voicemails into emails. What is cool is that it transcribes your voicemails into text and then sends it to your personal email account! By getting a new phone number, assigned by Google, this service goes above and beyond with features such as:
- One number: a single NEW phone number that rings all your phones
- Free SMS: send, receive & store text messages online
- Block calls: send unwanted callers straight to voicemail
- Record calls: record phone calls and store them online
- Conference calls: join several people into a single call (max 4 people)
- Screen callers: hear who is calling before you pick up
Imagine working in an ED where the walls are so insulated that you can't get any phone reception service. Yes, this is where I work. I occasionally get a one-bar signal on my iPhone. My phone knows just enough that someone is calling but I can't connect. So I get "missed call" and "voicemail" notifications frequently. Frustrating to say the least.
Now I can just check my voicemail using Google Voice.
Another interesting feature is that Google can connect your call for free anywhere in the U.S., supposedly without using minutes from your phone plan. Here's a snapshot of this feature from my Google Voice page.
Check out the informational video from Google: