Google Voice - advice needed

[SilverLeaf]

I’m trying to get set up with Google Voice for my business phone service, and I’ve run into an issue. I live on the border of two calling area codes. The area code that my home-based shop is located in does not have any numbers available in GV. The other area code (where most of my business will come from) has numbers available, but they are not from local exchanges, are a good distance away, and would probably be a long distance call for most of my customers. I would like to get a local exchange for my GV number.

I see where I can port an existing mobile number to use as my GV number, but I don’t have one to port (other than my private cell number). So, I’m thinking about getting one of those cheap pay-as-you-go phones with a minimum number of minutes (just to get a local number), and then port that number to GV. That way I’ll be able to get a local phone number for GV. As convoluted as this sounds, it seems like it should work. Has anyone tried this, or have any suggestions or input?

Thanks,
Joe

 

[OldSchoolPC]

Sounds like it would work. However in 2012, I wouldn't worry to much about long-distance calls. I use a texas based number 754 300 0123. (I live in PA)

 

[Appleby]

I hope this helps a little....I don't have the exact situation but I think I'm doing something similar (in a way) to what you are considering. I'm copy/pasting this from another thread I posted on.

http://www.technibble.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24534

I've got a personal cell number and a business cell number. The business cell it just an added line to my plan for $10/month. I don't want to carry two phones all the time but simply forwarding the business cell to the personal cell doesn't solve the problem, because as you said, I can't tell if it's a business call or not because I just see the number listed in the caller ID.

My solution: I got a Google Voice number. I set up my voice mail with GV for my business. I then forward my business line to my GV number. I then have GV ring my personal cell and I told GV to show my GV number in the caller ID, NOT the org. caller's caller ID. I then put my GV number in my personal cell contacts. When you call my business cell it ends up ringing my personal cell with my GV number as the caller ID. I know if it's a personal call or a business call and answer accordingly. If I don't answer the business call GV voicemail pics up the call.

Clear as mud?

Business cell forward to GV. GV rings personal cell and show GV number.

Hope that helps....
__________________

 

[SilverLeaf]

Well, it doesn't appear to be as simple as I had hoped. I went and spent a few dollars on one of those "pay-as-you-go" phones, and activated it. I received a number that would be local to my service area. When I tried to port this new number to Google Voice however, I get the following message:

Porting your mobile number to Google Voice is unavailable
Your mobile number can not be ported at this time.
- This number appears to be from an area we don't currently support for porting.

Not the result I was hoping for. It looks like I now have to decide which is more important:

1. Having a business number that's local to my service area.
2. The flexibility that GV provides.

 

[Screwloose]

I think the no-contract cell numbers do not work with GV ... I had a buddy of mine that tried to do that as well and it didnt work but with his personal cell phone it did.

 

[SilverLeaf]

I was afraid that might be the case. Actually, it makes sense now that I think about it. The phone was only $8. I'm sure they rely on the sale of airtime to subsidize them. I imagine the last thing they would want is someone to port the number to a different provider. Maybe I'll buy some airtime, and just keep this one in the ole truck for a back-up.

 

[jerde]

Agreed, it is rare to find someone without a cell phone.

Sounds like it would work. However in 2012, I wouldn't worry to much about long-distance calls. I use a texas based number 754 300 0123. (I live in PA)

 

[cloud9]

I think the no-contract cell numbers do not work with GV ... I had a buddy of mine that tried to do that as well and it didnt work but with his personal cell phone it did.

I have a prepaid Android and GV works fine for me.

 

[Appleby]

Ok I'm confused, I still don't see why this won't work? Tell me if I'm missing something....

Why don't you just forward the pre-paid cell number to your GV number? That's what I explained in my post. I don't really see why this won't do exactly what you are trying to do?

 

[SilverLeaf]

Actually, I didn't think about it from that angle. My plan was to port the pre-paid number to GV. It didn't occur to me to forward it.

So, I would publish the pre-paid number as my business number, forward that number to GV, and then forward GV to my personal phone? It seems this would work fine for incoming, as I would be able to differentiate between business and personal calls. I wonder about outgoing calls though. Wouldn't they register on my customers caller ID as originating from my GV number (long distance and from a different area code) which would be unfamiliar to them? Or is this incorrect?

Perhaps I am just over-thinking this. But, it's a rural area, and the perception of being local is important.

 

[Appleby]

Now you are getting it! You are basically talking about exactly what I'm doing. And I'm in a rural area and work in a small town, it is very important to my customers that I'm local. Everyone knows all the local prefixes and if you have a prefix for the next town 20 miles away, no one local will call you because they assume you are in the next town south of us.

Ok so here is the way I do it in a nut shell.

Business cell number is forwarded to GV. GV is set to ring on my personal cell. I set GV to display my GV number when it calls my personal cell. I input my GV number in my personal cell contact list, so I know when the call comes in, that it's a business call.

Now as for returning the phone call to a customer....great question. I use my business cell phone to call the customers back so they will see my REAL business phone number. I do not want my customers to ever see my personal cell number because they will keep it and call me on that number later. I've had that happen way back when I first started.

So yes I do have to keep up with two phones, but I don't carry them both in my pocket at all times. I keep my business cell in my truck or on my desk because I only use it to call customers back.

I hope that makes a little more sense. If not let me know....

 

[SilverLeaf]

OK, I've got it now. I should have read your first post a little more closely, and maybe I would have got it a little sooner Thanks for the input. It looks like I'll be doing it the same way.

 

[Appleby]

Glad you got it. It's not perfect but it's been working for me since the first day that GV rolled out and I got a beta invite. I wish I didn't have to keep my other cell laying around to return calls from, but with this setup I'm still able to...

- Carry one phone in my pocket and still receive all personal and business calls
- Business calls show on my caller ID as incoming business calls (so I can answer properly)
- I get a nice voicemail system that I can view online
- I get emails transcriptions of my voicemails
- I have greetings for Monday-Friday, after hours, holidays weekends etc and I change them accordingly.

I'm very happy with it, especially since its.....FREE!

 

[Encrypted Existence]

Now you are getting it! You are basically talking about exactly what I'm doing. And I'm in a rural area and work in a small town, it is very important to my customers that I'm local. Everyone knows all the local prefixes and if you have a prefix for the next town 20 miles away, no one local will call you because they assume you are in the next town south of us.

Ok so here is the way I do it in a nut shell.

Business cell number is forwarded to GV. GV is set to ring on my personal cell. I set GV to display my GV number when it calls my personal cell. I input my GV number in my personal cell contact list, so I know when the call comes in, that it's a business call.

Now as for returning the phone call to a customer....great question. I use my business cell phone to call the customers back so they will see my REAL business phone number. I do not want my customers to ever see my personal cell number because they will keep it and call me on that number later. I've had that happen way back when I first started.

So yes I do have to keep up with two phones, but I don't carry them both in my pocket at all times. I keep my business cell in my truck or on my desk because I only use it to call customers back.

I hope that makes a little more sense. If not let me know....

I use a similar method but I only have one phone for everything. I use my GV number as my business number on my personal cell phone. I just have to remember to return business calls from within the GV app and not from my personal number . I do enjoy GV though.