Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
Google Voice (GV) was launched on 11 March 2009, based on GrandCentral, with new features, including voicemail transcriptions and SMS managing. Currently, the service is available by invite only to anyone living in the United States. (There is a loophole! Read our next post on GV in Calgary and 403 area codes!) You can request an invite from Google here.
A breakthrough in the way we use voicemail, Google Voice organizes all of your voicemails from all of your phones, transcribes them to text and will even send them to you as a text message. For a more detailed feature list, visit Wikipedia and learn about how GV can transform how you use voicemail.
Below is a video explaining why Google decided Google Voice was a good idea. The video also talks about some other great features of the service. To learn more, you can check out similar videos as featured in the YouTube sidebar, or search YouTube for your favorite Google Voice feature!
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Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
If you’ve been listening to all the buzz on the net right now about the future of voicemail with Google Voice you were likely as disappointed as I was to hear that even after receiving an invite to use the service, it’s not available in Canada. With a little bit of research I was able to find that Google voice works natively with a 403 area code, potentially allowing Calgarians to utilize this service before other Canadians!
The problem you’ll encounter when trying to setup the service is getting through the invite screen that knows your not connecting to the internet in the U.S. This is actually an easy fix, and with a few quick steps you can have Google Voice setup on your phone in no time.
Here is a step by step way to get your Google Voice setup if your are living in Calgary or have a 403 area code:
NOTE: Do NOT choose your own number during setup unless you are unable to setup a Google number, as switching numbers is not yet available from Google Voice.
1. Go to the Google Voice Website and apply for an invite. This took a week for me to receive. It may help to try and make it sound as though your using Google Voice from a business standpoint. Also make sure to let them know that you are willing to give feedback. I was able to receive mine quickly, but I have no guarantee that everyone will be able to receive an invite.
2. Once you get the invite in your email inbox you will notice you are unable to continue if you’re connecting in Canada. To fix this go to download Hot Spot Shield website and follow the simple installation. Once Hot Spot Shield is running in a browser window you should be able to re-open the Google Voice Invite page and continue with no problems.
3. Do not just add your Calgary 403 area code number! Add a U.S number by getting it at Gizmo5 and forwarding it to my Skype account. Gizmo5 gives you a new phone number, Skype will be used to receive the call. Use this link to setup your Gizmo5 and Skype account to your Google Voice.
**I attempted this step after setting up my account using my Calgary number and was unable to complete the process. If you have been successful using a 403 area code and completing setup please share your success in our comments.
4. After setting up your number Google Voice will want you to verify it. As stated previously you ARE able to use your 403 Calgary area phone number in this step. You will be asked to select your carrier, and since Google Voice isn’t officially available in Canada yet, Canadian carriers are not available. I am a Telus user and had success using Verizon and Sprint. Comments on this will be greatly appreciated.
Hopefully this post enabled you to get through the first stages of setting up your Google Voice account. I hope some of you have more luck than I did getting your own Google Number. During Setup I think its a good idea to make sure that your Hot Spot Shield is on the whole time. Please Comment and let me know how it works for you!
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