You can also set up voicemail so that messages are transcribed to text messages or delivered by email. There's even a call-recording option, though it only works for incoming calls.
OK, but does all this mean you can no longer use the cordless phone system that's been a household staple for all these years? Actually, it's possible to keep that hardware in the loop -- keep reading to find out how. There's one important concern: You can't use Google Voice for calls. So although you're keeping your number, giving up your landline means you'll need to use your mobile phone or some other method to dial emergency services.
Also, if you currently have a Google Voice number that you're using for other purposes, porting your landline will override that number. If that's the case, it might be better to set up a new account with a new Google Voice number that you won't mind losing. There's a bit of a technical hurdle to moving your home phone number to Google Voice: The service can't port in numbers from landlines or VoIP services. But you should still check Google's number-porting page to see if maybe your number is already eligible.
It can port numbers from mobile carriers, though. So the trick is to first move your landline number to a mobile carrier, then move it to Google Voice. By all accounts, the best way to do that is to buy a T-Mobile SIM card, create a new account, port the landline number to that account, then make your move to Google Voice. Rather than walk you through each step of that process, I'm going to send you to Obihai's straightforward tutorial for porting a nonmobile number to Google Voice.
And the reason I've chosen that particular tutorial is that Obihai also makes an inexpensive device you might find useful after the switch. See the next section for further details. Best iPhone 13 Cases. Best Tech Gifts for Kids Aged Best 8K TVs. Best VR Headsets. Best iPad Mini Cases. Best Gifts for Cutting the Cord. Best Bluetooth Speakers. Awesome PC Accessories. Best Linux Laptops. Best Gaming Monitors. Best iPads. Best iPhones. Best External Hard Drives. Browse All News Articles. Smart TVs Ads.
Team Comes to Workplace by Meta. Block People Spotify. Verizon Selling PS5. Windows 11 SE Explained. Windows 11 SE. But no matter where your landline is currently parked, you should expect this entire process to take a few days.
And you can always go back into your Ting account online and check on the status of porting your number. Google has its own set of excellent instructions for moving a mobile number to Google Voice.
Note: Even if you already have a Google account for gmail, you might want to set up an independent account for Google Voice.
This will prevent Google from pulling in your contacts and other information that you might want to keep separate from the landline account. Go to your computer, and open Google Voice. Go to the top left, click on menu and choose Legacy Google Voice. Once in the Legacy menu, click on Settings in the upper right of the screen. The option is next to your current Google Voice phone number. Google says porting numbers can take up to 48 hours. Mine was done in about a day. You can check the status of your number porting.
During the activation process, Google will call or text the mobile number a verification code , so be sure to have your unlocked phone loaded with the prepaid SIM card.
Once your number is ported into Google Voice, a number of features are at your disposal. The screen calls option prompts callers to announce their name before the phone rings. This alone is a spam call killer. I also recommend enabling the filter spam setting for calls, messages and voicemail. My parents were hesitant about enabling the screen calls feature, fearing that this might confuse older family members.
But once the screen calls and spam filter was turned on, the newfound peace in their house made them pretty happy. Jennifer Still. You can also port your current phone number to a Google Voice account so both numbers can be used interchangeably. Initial Google Voice sign-ups are free of charge. Visit Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories. Jennifer is a writer and editor from Brooklyn, New York, who spends her time traveling, drinking iced coffee, and watching way too much TV.
You can find her on Twitter at jenniferlstill. Additional comments. Email optional. Receive a selection of our best stories daily based on your reading preferences. Deal icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt.
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