Google Voice

If you have a Google account you can set up a free Google Voice number allowing you to make and receive VOIP calls, as well as send and receive text messages.  When you set up a Google Voice number, calls and texts placed to that number are forwarded to one or more other numbers that you select. This allows you to have a single phone number ring at all of your phones (i.e. home, cell, work), or you can use Google Voice numbers to separate callers into groups - one Google Voice number for work colleagues, another Google Voice number for social activities, etc.

Google Voice also provides you with voice mail, and voice mail transcription which sends your voice mail to you as an e-mail. You can use Google Voice for call screening and routing of your calls based on Caller ID, time of day, and more. Google Voice is useful for providing yourself with a permanent number (you can always change the number Google Voice forwards to, without changing your Google Voice number). You can also use Google Voice as a temporary number, when you don’t want to provide your actual home or cellular number. 

Google Voice is a good service, but as is the case with many Google products there is a privacy concern when using Google Voice. All of your calls and text messages are routed through Google and thus Google has a record of whom you call, who has called you, and a copy of your text messages and voice mail. According to Google’s Privacy & Terms "Google Voice stores, processes and maintains your call history (including calling party phone number, called party phone number, date, time and duration of call), voicemail greeting(s), voicemail messages, Short Message Service (SMS) messages, recorded conversations, and other data related to your account in order to provide the service to you."

Although Google captures all of the information that goes through your account; Google Voice does add a layer of privacy to your calls if set-up from a new Google account, because the number traces back to the Google account and not to you personally. Once a number is identified as a Google Voice number, someone attempting to identify the owner of the number must then go to Google to obtain the forwarding number connected to that Google Voice account. Google doesn’t publish a directory of Google Voice numbers or generally publish personal information from Google accounts, however Google will release information from your account in response to a subpoena, court order, or warrant.

So, is Google Voice worth having? Yes, I believe that it is. Google Voice call screening and routing features helps you ensure that you can always be reached by people you want to hear from, such as close friends and family, and that you can screen calls from others - sending them straight to voice mail, or even blocking unwanted callers. Google Voice isn't a secure calling option, but for any time that you would provide your home or cell-phone number Google Voice might be a good option.

If you still have a home phone (or would like one without the costs associated with a landline from your local telephone company), you can use an OBi202 2-Port VoIP Phone Adapter with Google Voice and Fax Support to set up a home phone number.

With an OBi device and your existing broadband Internet connection, from the comfort of your home phone, you have the power to make and receive phone calls using a multitude of VoIP services for free or at a fraction of the cost a traditional telco would charge. Local, long distance and even international calling are all possible.

The OBi200 and OBi202 support up to four (4) VoIP services like Google Voice, and a multitude of 'Bring Your Own Device' Internet phone services.

• Use Google Voice with the OBi and enjoy free calls inside the USA and Canada
• Call internationally at amazingly low rates to over 150 destinations
• Rates to China, India, and Mexico as low as 1¢ per minute - with no connection fee
• When someone calls, ring multiple OBi devices, anywhere
• Block unwanted nuisance and tele-marketer calls
• Voicemail that acts like email
• Designed, developed and supported in the USA



You can get instructions to Set up a Google Voice account here:

1. On your computer, open Google Voice (https://google.com/voice/).
2. Sign in to your Google Account.
3. Accept the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
4. Search by city or area code for a number. Google Voice doesn't offer 1-800 numbers.
5. If there aren't any numbers available in the area you want, try somewhere nearby.
6. Next to the number you want, click Select. Follow the instructions.