That old phone number of yours

That old phone number of yours was Originally Posted on January 26, 2011 by lavarock

Google recently started testing the ability to port your telephone number to them for use with their Google Voice service.

Google Voice has options to forward calls to another number (and can dual call two numbers at once), it offers free voicemail to email, can blacklist numbers (something many phone companies charge for).

Perhaps you have a phone number that you have had for years and don’t want to lose it, because everyone knows it. This is one way to keep it.

The cost is currently a one-time $20 fee (if they can port the number). They will grab it and load it into your online ccount. Then you can set up what you want to do with it. Since Google is not a real phone company, there is no ongoing monthly charge for wires into your house, etc. You will have to ensure your phone company closes your account. If you have alarm service or get your internet through a phone line, this may not be an option for you.

If most or all of your calls are currently on your cellphone or you have other phone service like VOIP, this option allows you to keep a number and have it ring elsewhere.

If a telemarketer keeps calling you, just add their number to the blacklist and instantly they will begin getting a “bee-boop, the number you dialed is not in service” message They cannot get through to you unless the call from another number and then it is just a simple task to add that new number.

You can read about Google Voice at http://google.com/voice and click on “what’s new” and “features” tabs.

Google also allows free or cheap calls across the country or around the world.

NOTE: Currently Google is only allowing cell phones with certain plans to port in. Landline numbrs should come later.