Google Voice

I have often mentioned Google Voice on the blog, and felt it necessary to also provide an infomercial to you on it – because if you are online dating, or finding people at bars –  I think it is a necessity, and too many people don’t know what it is.

Google Voice is free.  (http://www.google.com/voice)    You sign up and get a phone number.   It has a set up similar to e-mail, and you program the google voice number to go to your cell phone, your home phone, your work phone, all of the above, or whatever.   Your regular phone number still works.

So – you meet someone online.  You give them your Google Voice number.   If they call or text it,  it still gets to you.   Although there are SEVERAL features of which I love about Google Voice- the most important is this:    Let’s say I give that number out and the guy gets weird.   I log onto my GV account, and click “Block this number.”     If he texts, I won’t ever receive it.   If he calls, he will hear “We’re sorry, but this number has been disconnected.”    I am never hesitant to give out this number because of this.

Other features of Google Voice which I love:

–  You can screen your calls and make the caller say their name when calling.   When you answer the phone it says “Call from [recorded name], to accept press 1, to send to voicemail, press 2.”    — Let’s say you send them to voicemail (which is separate from your actual voicemail on your “real” number, by the way.)    You can hang on the line and listen to it while the caller is recording the message.   If you deem it important-  you can actually connect the call.

–  You can RECORD calls.  Have a problem on your hands?  You can have evidence.

– You can text from your account online.   This has come in handy for me when I have left my phone at home, or my phone needs to be put away.

– There is a “Do Not Disturb” feature.   Turn it on, and calls won’t be transferred to your phone.  Instead, it will go right to voicemail.

– Cheap international calling.

– Voicemails are transcribed and texted to you if you want them to be.   And all voicemails and texts are saved for you on the account online too.

….Have you seriously not signed up yet?!   (Again -it’s free!!   No, I am not paid by Google..  but I’d like to be!)