Solution for business/personal cell usage?

[GreenCycleComputers]

Does anyone know a good way to receive business and personal calls to the same cell number? I want a business line and a personal cell line but I don't want to carry two phones. I know there are different ways of forwarding and such but that doesn't solve my problem of how to answer the phone. I need a way of knowing what phone number they are calling (business or personal) so I can know how to answer properly.

I just signed up for a Google Voice number and I have that set to ring my cell but it doesn't solve my problem of how to answer my phone. About 99% of the time it will either be someone from my contacts calling (or an unknown number and it will be business) and I'll be able to figure it out but I'm worried about that other 1%

I've tried to come up with a solution to this problem for awhile now and can't come up with a satisfactory resolution.

 

[JAG Computers]

Does anyone know a good way to receive business and personal calls to the same cell number? I want a business line and a personal cell line but I don't want to carry two phones. I know there are different ways of forwarding and such but that doesn't solve my problem of how to answer the phone. I need a way of knowing what phone number they are calling (business or personal) so I can know how to answer properly.

I just signed up for a Google Voice number and I have that set to ring my cell but it doesn't solve my problem of how to answer my phone. About 99% of the time it will either be someone from my contacts calling (or an unknown number and it will be business) and I'll be able to figure it out but I'm worried about that other 1%

I've tried to come up with a solution to this problem for awhile now and can't come up with a satisfactory resolution.

I use google voice and when someone calls me I have the number programmed in my phone. I also have the google options set to show the business number so I know it is for business rather than personal.

For example, I have the caller ID (incoming) set to display my google voice number instead of the caller's number.

If you want I can get a screenshot and show you what I mean.

 

[GreenCycleComputers]

I use google voice and when someone calls me I have the number programmed in my phone. I also have the google options set to show the business number so I know it is for business rather than personal.

For example, I have the caller ID (incoming) set to display my google voice number instead of the caller's number.

If you want I can get a screenshot and show you what I mean.

Yes please. I just started looking into Google Voice and it seems pretty cool but doesn't solve all my problems yet. I've had an out of state cell since I moved to TX 2 years ago and the only reason I don't get a local number is I do still get referrals and repeat business on that number. I would still like it to display the incoming number for call back purposes but if I can at least get it to display the business number that could work.

 

[SpeedTechPC]

I use Google Voice for my business line. If someone calls me personal cell when I answer they are immediately connected, if they call my business line then its the automated Google Voice saying to push 1 to take the call or 2 to send to voicemail, then I can hit one and go through my intro on business.

 

[GreenCycleComputers]

I use Google Voice for my business line. If someone calls me personal cell when I answer they are immediately connected, if they call my business line then its the automated Google Voice saying to push 1 to take the call or 2 to send to voicemail, then I can hit one and go through my intro on business.

Ok this is what I have it set to now which seems a reasonable compromise. Didn't realize I had to hit 1 or 2 to answer. I still wish there was a way to know it was business and also get caller id for the customer at the same time.

 

[GreenCycleComputers]

Ok I guess the next part of that equation is if there is a way to make outgoing calls from my personal cell but have it show up as coming from my Google Voice (business) line?

 

[PDXMicro]

Ok I guess the next part of that equation is if there is a way to make outgoing calls from my personal cell but have it show up as coming from my Google Voice (business) line?

If you have an iPhone, google voice has an app that you can call from. Basically google voice will dial your phone number, and once you answer the phone it will connect you to the person you are trying to dial (your google voice phone number will show up on your client's phone). I'm sure they have an app for the androids too.

 

[GreenCycleComputers]

That might work. I'm looking for an excuse to upgrade my phone. I was toying with the idea of adding another line to my plan (for business use) but just seems like a waste of money now that I found Google Voice. I already have to carry my personal cell and a huge Sprint Evo for my full time day job. 3 phones is just too much. I think I would prefer an Android version if available since that is the type of phone I'm leaning towards.

 

[iptech]

Google Voice has yet to come to the UK, but how do you guys find it in terms of reliability & QoS?

 

[The Silent Hobo]

my blackberry has a google voice add-on, where it'll actually give you the option to call using the google voice number, or sms using the GV number, it's nice to use.

Though sometimes the line isn't as clear as it could be, and if the people don't speak clearly, the google voicemail to text doesn't show up clear, but it's nice to have a copy of the voicemail.

as Jag said, it's a good idea to set up the phone to show the business number and not the client's number.

Josh

 

[LadeeJ]

i have an iphone and i use google voice. Its free and it sends you a transcript of your conversation or voicemails. I love it

 

[JAG Computers]

Yes please. I just started looking into Google Voice and it seems pretty cool but doesn't solve all my problems yet. I've had an out of state cell since I moved to TX 2 years ago and the only reason I don't get a local number is I do still get referrals and repeat business on that number. I would still like it to display the incoming number for call back purposes but if I can at least get it to display the business number that could work.

First, add your google voice number to your contacts. Next, go into the voice options for google voice. Upper right hand corner where you would sign out except click settings>voice settings>calls. And then do this:

This should be what you are looking for.

 

[ATTech]

as Jag said, it's a good idea to set up the phone to show the business number and not the client's number.

This is what I do, and if I need to call them back, I will open up the Google Voice app and go to missed/received to get the number. The app allows you to set it so that whenever you make a call it will ask you if you want to use Google Voice. That way your business ID shows up.

It's also nice to have a throw away email and a throw away phone number for times when I need to talk to someone over the phone but don't want to give out my phone number, like when I'm selling something on Craigslist.

 

[meanderer]

If you use google voice and try to call from your personal phone, you would need the google voice app to make the call. Then the app would show your ID as the "business" number.

 

[Over the Moon IT]

As far as I know you can also call your GV number and then press * or # and one of the options is to place a call. I'm fairly certain this will use your GV number for outgoing caller id.

 

[tankman1989]

You can setup Google voice or other VoIP phones (hooked up to Trixbox or Asterisk) for "pass through" which will show the number of the originator of the call or the line that is being called. So if you have a home line, business line, cell phone and a Google Voice # (GV#) this is what you can do.

Customer (C#) call GV# & you can have it ring all lines or any single one that you choose. You can also have either the C# show (pass through) on the caller ID of the destination phone or have the GV# show as the number being called. If you do the latter and you only use the GV# for business you will know that any time that # shows up it is a business call. You will not have callerID (unless GV can keep a log) of the customer's numbers but that shouldn't be as critical as knowing it is a customer calling bc you can always ask the customer for their # (just keep good track of client's names & numbers) and log it.