The Google Voice service gives you a free phone number to use for phone calls, text messages, and voicemail on your mobile phone and your computer.
Chances are, you have a phone number for making calls and sending texts. But what if you want a second number to split between personal and professional use? You might even want a decoy phone number to use when you set up accounts on the web. There are many ways to get a secret phone number, some free and some paid, but one I recommend trying is Google Voice.
With the Google Voice VoIP service, you’re assigned a dedicated phone number that may use the same area code as your existing number or general location. Any calls made to your Google Voice number are forwarded to your regular number for you to answer. Unanswered calls go to voicemail where Google provides voice and text transcriptions for you to review. Plus, you can use that second number for calling and texting on your phone and the Google Voice website.
Google Voice and all of its features are freely available for personal use but only in certain countries, including the US, Canada, UK, and Ireland. Business and educational users from the US and select regions can use the service with a paid Google Workspace account. All you need to get started is a Google account and an existing phone number. Here’s how to set up a second phone number with Google Voice.Set Up Google Voice
To set up your number on a PC, browse to the Google Voice web page and sign in with your Google account. Select whether you want the number for personal use or business. From the menu, you can choose how and where you want to set up the number—on an iOS device, an Android device, or on the Web. Your best bet is to choose Web since you can then immediately set up your number.
At the next screen, you can look for a number by city or area code. You can pick any city or area code, but you’ll likely want to choose one close to your location, especially if you plan to give the number to friends, colleagues, or clients. Enter an area code or city to see the available numbers and select one. Keep in mind that Google Voice numbers are increasingly in short supply, especially if you live in a large city, so you may need to settle for one in a nearby city, county, or state.
Once you’ve chosen a Google Voice number, you’ll need to verify your existing phone number. Click the Verify button at the next screen. Enter your mobile phone number and then click the Send code button.
