Tips to sign up for Google Voice and get the Google number
Nowadays, many people prefer to use two numbers for convenience. Some people prefer to use their primary number to communicate with their family members and use their secondary number to make calls and texts with other known people. At the same time, some people prefer to use the secondary number to use in online for various platform account creation. The actual purpose of using an additional phone number can vary from person to person, but the need to use a secondary number increasing day by day. There are multiple options to use two phone numbers at a time. One is to use two physical SIM cards, which many people use. But, do you know that a Google phone number will help you in that case to get a secondary number without buying a SIM card? In this article, you will learn about what is Google Voice, how to get a Google phone number, and the cost of getting a Google phone number.
Google Voice VoIP service will assign you a dedicated phone number that you can use to make and receive phone calls, text messages and any other related stuff that your existing phone number does. The Google phone number will use the same area code and location of your existing phone number as the Google phone number will be linked to your existing phone number. That means, you have to use your existing phone number that can be linked with the Google phone number and then if anyone calls to your Google phone number, the call will be forwarded to your regular phone number to answer. Besides, if any call remains unanswered that will be going to the voicemail where Google provides the voice and text to read and listen to the message. Along with these, you will be able to use your Google phone number to call and text someone from the Google Voice website as well as the Google Voice app. The benefit of using a Google phone number is that you do not have to worry about purchasing a new sim from any carriers and do not have to compromise your actual number. You just have to sign up for Google Voice for free using a Google account and have to link with a valid USA number. If you are from the outside USA, then you have to use the paid version.
How to get a Google phone number
Before going through the process of getting a Google phone number, you have to make sure that you have a Google account and a number with a regular phone service. The regular number can be either a landline or a mobile carrier.
- First of all, Go to the Google Voice sign-up page.
- Select personal use and choose Android, iOS, or Web. Anyone you can choose but after completing the setup and getting a Google account you will be able to use that number from any platform.
- Sign in to your Google account and accept the terms and conditions.
- Now, search for a city or area code in the search bar.
- Once you search by a city or area code, the list of available numbers will show.
- Select a number from that list.
- After selecting the number, click on Verify>enter the regular phone number that you want to link>tap on Send code
- A code will be sent to your regular phone number from Google via a text message
- Enter that code and then select Verify again
- Now, click on Finish, and all the processes are done to make calls and texts using the Google phone number.
While selecting the area code it is not mandatory to use the same area code of your location. You can choose a different area code if you do not want callers to know your actual location.
How to use the google voice from the web
After getting the Google phone number, you can either use it from the web or the app. To use it from the web,
- Go to the Google Voice page first.
- On the left side, there will be several options. In the Voicemail section, you will get a welcome message from Google for the first time and will get a voicemail message if anyone sends you in the future.
- In the Messages section, all the messages will be shown. You will be able to reply to any messages if you want.
- In the Call icon, you will be able to call anyone by typing the number in the dialpad. Besides, you can type a person’s name of the contact to call that person. When you call any number, your Google phone number will show in the caller ID and in that way, the real number will be hidden from your contact person.
- You can answer the call, if anyone calls you by clicking on the green icon but note that it will be forwarded to your mobile phone as well. The caller has to give their name and Google will announce it to you. Now, if you want to accept the call, click on 1 of the keypad and if you want to send the voicemail to the caller, click 2 of the keypad. During the phone call, you can mute the call, hold on the call, and access the keypad.
- Click the dot menu where you will get several options. You can add the person to the address book, archive any message to the archive folder, and block any number to reject future calls and texts.
- You can change the settings based on your needs by tapping on the settings icon that is placed in the upper right corner.
How to use the google voice from the Mobile phone/APP
To use Google Voice on your phone, you have to download the Google Voice app from the Android or iOS app store. In the mobile phone, you can use wi-fi or mobile data to make phone calls as well as mobile carriers.
- Go to the Settings of the voice app>Calls>make and receive calls
- The first option is to prefer Wi-Fi and mobile data. If you select this option, then you have to be connected to the internet to make any call or receive a call and a small amount of data will be used while you talking with someone
- The second option is to use carrier only and in that case, a charge will be generated as per the carrier plan.
- You can make and receive the call from the call option, send and receive the message from the message option, and send or receive the voicemail from the voicemail option. The process is the same as the website one.
- You can adjust settings based on your needs from the settings for Google Voice in the mobile app.
The cost of Google Phone number
Google Voice is free within the USA and Canada to make calls and send text messages if your device is connected to the internet. If you make the call and text message using the carrier then you have to pay as per the carrier plan. To make any international call, google has a list of rates for internal calls through Google Voice.
Conclusion
Google phone number is a better choice if you want a secondary phone number as it has a lot of features. The greatest benefit of Google Voice is that it’s cross-platform and allows you to make and receive calls, and send or receive messages from multiple devices once you register. Apart from that, Google Voice apps offer premium plans for business. Like the personal one, you can sign up for the business account that is paid.
