Google Voice as Alternate to T-Mobile VoiceMail?

[berryite]

I've been tinkering around with Google Voice recently. I generally love Google and adopt almost everything they do. Google hosts my website and all of my domain apps.

I'm not ready to make the jump to Google Voice as a complete solution for two reasons:

1.) I have an exceptionally cool number from T-Mobile that everyone in the world I know already has. This is a number you can tell people one time and the likelihood is that they'll remember it. Something like 213.999.1111 (not the real number but you get the idea). I'm just not ready to give up my really cool number to get something like 213.972.5381.

2.) I am not a fan of Rube Goldberg solutions. Google has done a great job with Google Voice but there are still things that take a lot of work to do to use it as opposed to just using your basic T-Mobile service.

So here's my question ... has anyone signed up for Google Voice and used it solely as a replacement for T-Mobile's voicemail. And if so, what are your experiences and what are the benefits to doing this that you've found?

[NorrisCell]

I've messed around with Google Voice and while it's an amazing service, I don't see it as an improvement on the normal voicemail system.

[clitrenta]

I also have Google Voice but I did not intend it as a replacement to my T-Mo voice mail. I use it mostly to give to people/businesses that I do not want to have my cell phone number. This typically does not include my friends and family. If you want to try it out, just start with using it for places you do business with (cable, car, mortgage, etc.). If you find it to be useful, then keep it just for that purpose or expand your uses for it.

[mnmnmn]

I use Google Voice for my main number. I don't like to give out my cell number. I experimented with replacing my T-Mobile voice mail with my Google Voice. The advantage is that I get an emailed transcription of the message. The problem I had is when I'm not in an area that has no coverage (basement etc) the caller would receive a message that my number was "out of service". I quickly switched back to the regular T-Mobile voice mail.

[fjerske]

I use it as a replacement for tmo vmail and it 100x more reliable. I don't use the gvoice app but just the email &transcribation. And love it.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[roryslife]

I use my google voice number as my tmo voicemail and I live in a roaming area (Anchorage).

I set my callforwarding if not available to forward to my google voice number then set my google voice number to go straight to the message box.

The only problem is that my tmo number rings 5 times before then forwarding, then the google voice number takes a second before picking up.

Its worth it though for the sheer ability not to have to deal with voice mail. I would check it only once a week (if that). Now the transcripts are sms'd to my blackberry, and if I have a problem with the transcription, I will listed to the message using the google voice app.

[berryite]

Originally Posted by roryslife

Now the transcripts are sms'd to my blackberry, and if I have a problem with the transcription, I will listed to the message using the google voice app.

So the transcriptions are the biggest advantage?

[berryite]

Originally Posted by roryslife

The only problem is that my tmo number rings 5 times before then forwarding, then the google voice number takes a second before picking up.

Forgot to mention, not sure if you are aware of it but Google has announced that they intend to provide for number porting in the future. This would mean that you could port your existing cell number to Google Voice and have that as your primary number (this would necessitate getting a new number from your carrier). Obviously the advantage in number porting would be to not have to tell everyone you know a new number.

Longer term, I'm betting Google will partner with the carriers and offer an integrated Google Voice option with your T-Mobile account (or any other carrier you might use).