14 DAY TRIAL // Google Voice, the service that provides users with a single phone number that rings mobile, home, work and other phones of the user based on the settings one makes, has just become a little more attractive with included support for existing mobile phone numbers. While until now the service required for users to select a new phone number, now it enables them to use their existing number with Google Voice.
“We're excited to announce that you now can get Google Voice with a Google number OR with your existing mobile phone number. If you choose to use Google Voice with your existing number, you won't get some features (like call screening and recording), but you'll still get many others – including Google voicemail,” the search giant announced on the Google Voice blog.
What Google Voice offered users until now included the possibility for one to choose the phone on which to answer calls or where one would check the voicemail messages, as well as features like call forwarding, screening, and recording. The only big inconvenient here was that users were asked to choose a new phone number, and all those who called needed to call on that very number.
Those who will choose to use their existing number with Google Voice will enjoy features like: online, searchable voicemail, free automated voicemail transcription, custom voicemail greetings for different callers, email and SMS notifications, or low-priced international calling. At the same time, one can also get a new Google number, which will bring more features to the equation, including: one number that reaches you on all your phones, SMS via email, call screening, listen in, call recording, conference calling, call blocking.
Users who already have a Google number can now bring calls from both an old number and a new one into the same voicemail. According to the search giant, Google voicemail can be added to any mobile phone that has been linked to an account. Those who would like to join Google Voice can do so by requesting an invitation from Google (via this link) or from someone who already has Google Voice.