Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

Google has just kind of, sort of followed up on an earlier promise and at the same time dealt another potential blow to some of the wireless carriers. That announcement, Google will now allow users to use their existing number with Google Voice.

Of course, like I mentioned in the title, this does come with a catch. To begin with, you will still need to be invited into the Voice service. That comes as expected, however the real catch comes in the form of a little tease.

Those users who choose to go with their existing number will not be getting a full Google Voice experience. Instead they will get voicemail, voicemail transcription, custom voicemail greetings and the ability to receive either email or SMS notifications of new email messages. See the pattern, if you choose to use Google Voice with your existing number its all about the voicemail. Well, the voicemail and also low-international calling rates.

As far as what you miss out on by going with your existing number. No SMS by email, no call screening or listening in. You also lose the call recording, conference calling and call blocking. Finally, and this is the one big feature you do not get—the ability to have your number ring multiple phones.

In other words, those who choose to use Google Voice with their existing number are going to really be getting a fancy voicemail setup. Still it is a nice setup, but for me the killer features of Google Voice are having it ring multiple phones and the ability to block calls.

Finally, as I mentioned earlier, those who are not setup with Google Voice will still need an invitation. As for those that already have an account, you can, if you want add Google voicemail to any mobile phone that is already linked to your account. Personally I am not sure why regular Google Voice users would need that last bit, but I guess having the option is nice.

Read [Google Voice Blog]