Need a second phone number? How to get started with Google Voice

You in all probability have a cellphone quantity on your cell phone by way of which you make and obtain cellphone calls, ship and obtain textual content messages, and handle different associated duties. However typically you need to use a second quantity for private and enterprise cellphone calls and texts. Or perhaps you need to use a special quantity when organising accounts on web sites.

Quite a lot of choices can be found for retrieve a second phone number, some free and a few paid. However one choice value attempting is Google Voice.

With the voice of Google VoIP service, you might be assigned a devoted cellphone quantity that will use the identical space code as your present cellphone quantity or basic location. All cellphone calls made to your Google Voice quantity are forwarded to your common quantity so you possibly can reply straight.

Unanswered calls go to voicemail, the place Google gives voice and textual content transcriptions so that you can learn and hearken to messages. Furthermore, you need to use this second quantity for cellphone calls and texts, not solely in your cellphone, however on the Google Voice web site.

In distinction, Google Voice and all of its options can be found without cost for private use. Then again, the non-public service is at present solely accessible in america for people. Nonetheless, Google Voice is offered to enterprise and schooling customers with paid Google Workspace accounts in america and different areas of the world.

To reap the benefits of Google Voice, you want a Google Account and an present cellphone quantity. Now let’s examine the steps to make use of this feature as a second cellphone quantity.

Configure Google Voice

To arrange your quantity on a PC, go to Google Voice webpage(Opens in a new window) and sign up together with your Google account. You should use any of the main browsers, reminiscent of Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, or Safari. The web page asks you to seek for a quantity by coming into your metropolis or space code. You’ll be able to select any metropolis or space code, however you will in all probability need to select one in or close to your location, particularly should you plan to offer out the quantity to associates, co-workers, and different folks.

Sort an space code or metropolis to see accessible numbers. Click on on the hyperlink to Present extra if you wish to show further numbers. Then click on on the Choose button for the cellphone quantity you need to use.

Now you’ll want to confirm your present cellphone quantity. Click on it Test button on the following display screen. Enter your cellphone quantity then click on on the Ship code button.

Sort the code you obtain and click on the Confirm button. You might be advised that your quantity has been linked to your account. Click on End, then click on End once more.

Use Google Voice on the internet

Now you can use your Google Voice quantity on the internet in addition to in your cell phone. Let’s strive the web site first. Your Google Voice web page shows a toolbar with icons for calls, messages, and voicemail. Click on the voicemail icon to learn a message from Google Voice welcoming you to the service. Click on the play button to listen to the message learn aloud.

To make a cellphone name from the web site, click on the suitable numbers on the keypad to position the decision. If you happen to keep an tackle e book in Google, you can begin typing a contact’s identify and choose that particular person to name. Both manner, your Google Voice quantity will seem within the different particular person’s caller ID to forestall your common cellphone quantity from being revealed. In the course of the name, you possibly can mute the sound, put the decision on maintain and entry the keypad if you’ll want to enter numbers to reply a name menu. Whenever you’re performed, simply click on the cellphone icon to hold up.

If you happen to obtain a name in your Google Voice quantity, you possibly can reply it on the web site, however needless to say it should even be forwarded to your cell phone. Click on the inexperienced cellphone icon to reply the decision. The caller is prompted for his or her identify, which Google proclaims to you. If you wish to settle for the decision, open the keypad and click on 1. To ship the caller to your voicemail, click on 2. In any other case, grasp up.

Then you possibly can examine all of the voicemails. Click on the Voicemail icon on the left. Choose a selected voice message. The textual content transcript ought to seem routinely, however it’s possible you’ll want to attend a couple of minutes to see the textual content of a brand new voicemail message. Click on the Play button to hearken to the message.

To ship a textual content message from the web site, click on the Messages icon. Click on on the choice to Ship a brand new message. Scroll by way of the contact checklist to pick out the particular person you need to textual content, or sort the particular person’s quantity or identify. Sort your textual content beneath and ship it. Any texts you obtain will even seem on the message display screen.

You’ll be able to handle your cellphone calls, textual content messages and voicemail on the web site. To do that, choose a selected name, textual content or voicemail. Relying on the merchandise, click on the Name or Message icon within the prime proper to reply the caller by cellphone or textual content.

Click on on the three-dot icon to show a menu with completely different choices. Choose Individuals so as to add the particular person to your tackle e book. Choose Archive to ship the merchandise to the Archive folder. Choose Mark as spam if the decision is spam. Choose block quantity to reject future calls or texts from this quantity. For voicemail, choose Obtain to avoid wasting the message as an MP3 file. Choose Delete to delete it.

On the web site, you may also view and alter Google Voice settings. Click on the Audio Settings icon within the prime proper to regulate your microphone, tone, and audio system.

Click on the Settings icon within the prime proper. On the Settings display screen, you possibly can take away, unlock, or switch your Google Voice quantity. You can even change some settings on your cellphone calls and voicemails, examine your cost historical past, and allow safety to filter undesirable calls and messages.

Use Google Voice in your cell phone

If you happen to’re sitting at your laptop together with your Google Voice web site open in your browser, it is definitely attainable to make use of the online web page to deal with calls and texts. In any other case, you will want to put in and configure the free Google Voice app in your cell phone.

Obtain the app for iOS(Opens in a new window) The place android(Opens in a new window). The Google Voice app seems to be and works the identical on each platforms. Earlier than you begin making and receiving calls, you’ll want to decide in order for you use your mobile data and Wi-Fi or your operator(Opens in a new window) for calls. Within the Google Voice app, click on the hamburger icon. Go to Settings > Calls > Make and obtain calls.

The primary choice for Favor Wi-Fi and cell information lets you make a name over the web as you’d with any VoIP service, nevertheless, it should use a small quantity of information out of your cell plan for every name. The second choice for Use service solely makes use of your cell service to make the decision, however might incur expenses if they do not have limitless minutes. In case you have a very good Wi-Fi connection and restricted minutes, go for the primary choice. In any other case, select the second choice.

To make a name, faucet the Calls icon on the backside and choose the keypad icon. From there, choose the particular person’s identify from the options or sort within the cellphone quantity to name. You can even faucet the Contacts icon on the backside, choose the particular person you need to name, and faucet the cellphone quantity.

An incoming name to your Google Voice quantity will ring your cell phone. The method is similar as on the web site. The caller is prompted for his or her identify, which is introduced to you. On the keypad, press 1 to reply the decision or 2 to ship it to voicemail. Faucet the Voicemail icon on the backside to entry your messages. The transcript shows the textual content. Press play to hearken to the message.

To ship a textual content message, faucet the Messages icon on the backside, then faucet the pencil icon, or faucet the contacts icon, choose the contact you need to textual content, then faucet the textual content icon. Enter your textual content and ship it. All of the texts you obtain will seem in the identical place.

Lastly, to vary Google Voice settings within the cell app, go to Settings and you will find choices for messages, calls, voicemail, funds, and safety.