How exactly does Google Voice work?

How does Google Voice really work?

• What is Google Voice? Like what is the point of it? I had an invite and I signed up, I only have one cell phone, no house or work phone? what things can I do with it ? it says is ...show more

• Answer:

  When they say Google Voice is free, they mean the service itself. When you make phone calls, whatever plan you use already, is still the one you use. They just mean it's no additional charge to get Google Voice. In your situation, even if you only have one cell, there is still much you can do with it. The first thing is getting a Google Voice number. That alone is a nice feature because 1. You get to pick your own number, 2. That number will never change. So you can continue to give out your Google Voice number to your contacts without having to worry that they won't be able to contact you if you switch phones/get a new cell number. All you have to do is change your cell phone's number on your Google Voice account. Also, Google Voice turns voicemails into text, so you can read it on your computer, or have a text message sent to your phone with the message. If you add your husbands number on your account, that's when the real function of Google Voice comes into play. If you have immediate family, that you want to be able to contact you at all times, on your Google Voice account, you set it so that when those people/numbers call your Google Voice number, it will ring BOTH you and your husbands phones. If you have friends that call you regularly, but don't want to bother your husband with having his phone ringing, just set it so that when your friends call, it will only ring YOUR phone. And vice versa for your husband. Also, you can choose to have it send certain people straight to voicemail. For anything more, read about GV here: http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html