How do I make Google Voice my default dialer?
What is Google Voice and how does it work?
Google Voice is a free voice over IP (VOIP) and call forwarding service offered by Google. It provides users with a free phone number that can ring multiple phones simultaneously. Some key features of Google Voice include:
- Call forwarding – Google Voice can ring all your phones so you never miss a call. It can ring your home phone, cell phone, work phone, etc.
- Voicemail transcription – Google Voice automatically transcribes your voicemails and texts you the transcript so you can quickly read messages.
- Cheap international calling – Google Voice offers low-cost international calling rates to over 100 countries.
With Google Voice, your actual cell phone number stays private. People reach you via your Google Voice number. When someone calls your Google Voice number, you can choose to answer on any phone you want. Google Voice essentially acts as a central hub for all your calling and texting needs.
Google Voice is completely free for calls within the United States and Canada. International calls are charged at low rates. The service is available on iOS, Android, and on the web at voice.google.com.
Benefits of using Google Voice as your default phone app
Google Voice offers several key benefits when used as your primary phone app instead of your carrier’s default dialer.
One major advantage is unified messaging. Google Voice combines voicemails, texts, and calls into one inbox, and provides voicemail transcripts so you can easily skim audio messages. This makes it simple to keep track of all your communications in one place (https://www.crazyegg.com/blog/how-does-google-voice-work/).
Google Voice also offers much cheaper international calling rates compared to most carriers. Calling abroad with Google Voice can save you significantly on your phone bill (https://www.reddit.com/r/Googlevoice/comments/18n86l2/pros_cons_of_makingreceiving_google_voice_calls/).
Other key features include call screening to filter spam calls, voicemail transcription for easy skimming, and call recording for saving important conversations. You also have call blocking options to stop unwanted callers. Overall, Google Voice provides a more robust communication experience than a standard smartphone dialer (https://support.google.com/voice/thread/186704493/google-voice-versus-cell-phone-carrier?hl=en).
Make Google Voice your default dialer on Android
Making Google Voice your default phone app on Android is a straightforward process that allows you to place all calls through your Google Voice number. Here are the steps:
First, open the Google Voice app on your Android device. Tap the menu button in the top left corner and select ‘Settings’.
Next, scroll down and tap on ‘Making and receiving calls’. This will open the call settings for Google Voice.
Under ‘Default outbound calling’, select ‘Google Voice’ from the list. This will set Google Voice as the default app for placing calls on your device.
Now when you initiate calls from your phone dialer, contacts, or other apps, they will route through your Google Voice number by default rather than your regular cell phone number.
You can toggle this setting any time to switch between your regular number and Google Voice as the default dialer.
Make Google Voice your default on iPhone
To make Google Voice your default phone app on iPhone, you’ll need to have both the Google Voice app and the GV Connect app installed. GV Connect works alongside the Google Voice app to route calls through Google Voice.
First, go to Settings > Phone > Calls on Default and make sure GV Connect has access to cellular calls. Next, open the GV Connect app and go to Settings. Toggle on “Default Voice App” to set GV Connect as your default dialer.
With this setup, whenever you make a phone call on your iPhone, it will route through your Google Voice number rather than your regular carrier number. Any call logs or voicemails will show up in the Google Voice app.
One limitation is that you can’t seamlessly transfer calls from the iPhone dialer to the Google Voice app. But otherwise it provides full integration of Google Voice as your primary phone service on an iPhone. Just be sure to keep the GV Connect app installed and enabled as your default.
Source: https://support.google.com/voice/answer/9238264?hl=en
Using Google Voice on desktop
The Google Voice website at voice.google.com lets you make calls, check voicemail, send texts, and manage your account directly from your desktop computer. The website has all the key features of Google Voice, providing an easy way to use the service without needing to open the mobile app.
You can make calls within the U.S. and internationally using the website. When you receive a call to your Google Voice number, the website will ring just like the mobile app so you can answer on your computer.
To enable even easier calling from Chrome, you can install the Google Voice Chrome extension. This adds click-to-call functionality, allowing you to make calls by simply clicking on phone numbers on webpages [1]. The extension also provides notifications for incoming calls and messages.
Between the main website and Chrome extension, Google Voice provides a full desktop experience comparable to the mobile apps. This gives you flexibility to seamlessly use Google Voice across devices.
Transferring your existing number
You can port an existing cell phone number over to Google Voice so that you keep your same number. To get started, go to the Google Voice website and click on ‘Transfer’ in the top right corner. From there, you’ll enter your current cell phone number and carrier. Google charges a $20 fee to port your number over.
The number transfer process usually takes 1-3 business days to complete. During that time, you’ll still be able to receive calls and texts to your old number. Once the port is finished, your number will work fully with Google Voice and you’ll be able to set it as your default caller ID when making calls and texts.
According to Google’s porting guidelines, your current carrier may charge a fee to release your number over to Google. And certain numbers, like landlines or some VOIP numbers, can’t be transferred. So double check the eligibility requirements before starting the port.
International calling with Google Voice
One of the major benefits of using Google Voice is the low cost for international calls. Google Voice offers cheap rates for calling phone numbers in other countries. According to Calling Rates, rates start at $0.01/minute for calls to many popular destinations like Mexico, India, and China.
Some key things to know about Google Voice international calling:
- Calls to Canada and many European countries are free.
- Calls to Cuba cost $0.70/minute.
- Calls to mobile phones may have slightly higher rates.
- International calling is available on Android, iPhone, and desktop.
Overall, Google Voice can save you significant money compared to your carrier’s international rates. It’s easy to make affordable international calls from anywhere by using the Google Voice app or website. According to Google, international calling works to supported destinations as long as you have a US Google Voice number.
Limitations of Google Voice
While Google Voice offers many benefits, it also has some limitations users should be aware of. One major limitation is that Google Voice does not support sending or receiving MMS picture and video messages – only standard SMS text messages are supported. This can be a significant drawback for people who frequently use MMS messaging.
Google Voice availability and certain features can also be limited by some cell phone carriers. For example, AT&T and T-Mobile restrict the ability to use Google Voice as your primary call and text service on a smartphone. And features like call screening and voicemail transcription may be restricted on certain networks. This means Google Voice won’t have full functionality unless your carrier fully supports it.
Voicemail management can also be more limited compared to your regular carrier voicemail. Google Voice voicemail only retains messages for 30 days unless you manually save the audio file. And transcriptions of voicemails may contain errors since they are computer-generated.
Overall, while Google Voice offers worthwhile features for many users, limitations like MMS messaging, carrier restrictions, and voicemail retention are important considerations. Checking with your carrier and understanding Google Voice’s restrictions can help avoid frustration when using the service.
Comparison to other VOIP services
Google Voice offers some distinct advantages and disadvantages compared to other popular VOIP services like Skype, Vonage, RingCentral, and Ooma:
Skype
Skype lacks many features offered by Google Voice like voicemail transcripts, call screening, and advanced call forwarding/routing. However, Skype does offer video calling. Skype has a free tier, but paid plans start at $2.99/month which is cheaper than Google Voice’s $20/month for premium features [1].
Vonage
Vonage provides more robust business-oriented solutions, conference calling, video, team messaging, and advanced call management features. However, basic Vonage plans start at $29.99/month which is much more expensive than Google Voice [2].
RingCentral
Like Vonage, RingCentral is focused on business users and includes video, team messaging, and advanced call handling. But it’s also significantly more expensive with basic plans starting at $19.99/user/month [3].
For individual users who just need basic calling and texting, Google Voice provides good value and features for free. But for businesses, other VOIP providers offer more advanced capabilities at a higher cost.
Conclusion
In summary, Google Voice offers many benefits as an alternative phone service and default dialer. By switching to Google Voice, you can make affordable calls in the U.S. and abroad, send free texts, transcribe voicemails, and more, all through one number.
Some of the key advantages of using Google Voice include:
- Lower cost for domestic and international calls
- Ability to text for free to any U.S. number
- Voicemail transcription and email notifications
- Call screening and blocking unwanted calls
- Seamless experience across mobile and desktop
If you’re ready to make the switch, you can easily make Google Voice your default phone app on both Android and iPhone. It only takes a few minutes to set up.
To get started, visit voice.google.com to sign up for a free Google Voice number and account. Then follow our step-by-step instructions earlier in this guide to make it your primary dialer and integrate it with your existing contacts and number.