Google Voice: My Summer Obsession

I'm coming clean: Google Voice is my summer obsession.

I sweated out weeks waiting to join Google Voice. When the golden ticket invitation finally arrived by Gmail, I excitedly logged into the site to pick my new phone number.

Devastated, I discovered that all the phone numbers with my hometown area code – 202 -- were taken! Sure, I could use my Google Voice invite to get any old number, but then I would have to explain repeatedly that I had not moved from Washington, D.C.

So, every single day since, I log into Google Voice to try to get my 202 area code number and have come up empty-handed each time.

To be honest, I deliberately didn't write about Google Voice before out of a selfish fear that it would create even greater demand for the 202 phone numbers. Alas, when Google announced Tuesday that it is giving priority Google Voice phone numbers to all active military, I felt it was my patriotic duty to stop hiding Google Voice.

Competition for Google Voice phone numbers in large metropolitan areas is fierce. My editor said, "Here in L.A., it's the dreaded 818 nobody wants. 323s are apparently hard to come by these days."

New York City area codes 212 and 917 are apparently impossible to obtain through Google anymore, so some people are paying enormous sums to get those numbers transferred to them.

People are actually buying and selling free Google Voice phone number on eBay. Currently, a phone number with a little-known New York area code – 347 – is being sold on eBay with a starting price of $299.

For the uninitiated, Google Voice is a free phone number to receive all your calls and SMS text messages. It has these awesome features: free long distance domestic calls and SMS text messages, calls that can be answered on any of your phones (home, cell, work), voicemail transcribed and emailed to you, personalized voicemail greeting by caller, free conference calls, and the ability to record calls and store them on line and switch phones during a call.

All this and it's free -- so there must be a catch, right? Well, like I said, for those of us living in large cities, getting the phone number with your own area code is not easy. There are also several steps in the process of getting a Google Voice phone number.

First you need to sign up for a Gmail e-mail account. Then, you go to Google Voice Invite and fill out the form requesting an invitation. Next you wait to get an invitation for a Google Voice phone number. Finally, you log in and pick your phone number based on area code or letters.

Since this process can take awhile, Google is supporting military members by giving them Google Voice invitations for military personnel within 24 hours after they request them. "Being in the military often presents unique challenges for staying in touch, which is why we are giving away priority invites to military personnel," Army Sgt. Dale Sweetnam, who is working with Google's communications team, announced on a Google blog.

My friend who works in the industry -- but not for Google -- keeps me updated on new technology. I call him my "Tech Guru." He taught me about Google Voice, and for those of you who are also confused about this new technology, our chat on Google Talk below may help you understand.

Me: A phone number from Google? Does it go to a phone?

Tech Guru: yes, Google voice will ring ALL on our phones at once, home, cell, work, whatever, it also lets you screen and record calls. I could spend all night talking about Google voice, I am such a nerd.

Me: so your phone number that you gave me is a real phone number and a real phone and it's from Google

Tech Guru: and custom voicemails for each caller, free texting too

Me: there has to be a catch

Tech Guru: Nope

Me: why would they give out free phone service?

Tech Guru: they will even TRANSCRIBE your voicemails and email them to you, they write it out shows up in your Gmail inbox

Me: I dont listen to voice mails. EVER. I have phone phobia

Tech Guru: I've been a member for like 18mos, it's the biggest voice telecom innovation in 50 yrs

Me: what if they dont accept me? how exclusive is this club?

Tech Guru: ha, they give 'em out to everyone. And you PICK your # from a list

Me: holy moly

Tech Guru: you can even give it words, like EMILLER

Me: I'm going to have a heart attack, holy holy holy

Tech Guru: now, you might get (402) EMI-LLER

Me: this is too good to be true

Tech Guru: but who cares, nobody pays long distance anymore. Oh, you can also TXT for free from Google Talk

Me: why isn't everyone doing this? I'm not telling a soul. I dont want them to take it away

Tech Guru: haha, well you still need a phone carrier, it's just a # to call from/to, talking through Google voice on a cell phone still uses minutes.

*****

Once I had received an invitation, I logged in to get my phone number and panic-stricken, I went back to my tech-guru on Google Talk:

Me: oh NO. It works but says there are no 202 numbers avail now. Think numbers will open up or I should just go with my name?

Tech Guru: they'll open up more 202, they had em 2 weeks ago when I looked, 212 is impossible, btw, Manhattan is booked

Me: I want 202. I am 202. I'll wait. I tried emiller, millere. nada

Tech Guru: more will open up

Me: patience... Do I come back and check the link to see?

Tech Guru: I would

Me: I'm never getting out of this chair

*****

With our military personnel doing repeated tours of Iraq and Afghanistan, I think Google's offer is a wonderful way to support our troops and make their separation from family and friends a little less painful.

As we all must make sacrifices in wartime, maybe all the 202 area code Google Voice phone numbers are needed by the men and women fighting for our freedom. Perhaps.

Though, I will shamelessly continue to beg Google: Could you hook up a D.C. girl with a cool new 202 Google
Voice number?

Follow me on Twitter @EmilyMIllerDC

Update August 7:

Within 24 hours of posting this story, I got a tweet that said: cwalker123 "@EmilyMillerDC hey Emily...Craig Walker here from Google Voice...shoot me an email at cwalker123 at gmail and I might be able to help you :)"

I googled "Craig Walker" and found out that he is the CEO of Google Voice. I emailed him, and he responded that he was happy to help me get a 202 number.

Meanwhile, I got another tweet from someone I don't know that said: robbydc "@EmilyMillerDC Look now! I just got a 202 after waiting for days. They have plenty."

So, I logged into Google Voice and found that there are now tons of 202 area code phone numbers available. As my tech guru friend, who taught me about Google Voice, said, "It's Christmas in August!"

Then, I emailed my new friends in the Army to let them know that any military from DC could also get the 202 Google Voice numbers. I tweeted about it too so everyone would know - no need to keep it a secret anymore!

I spent most of last night clicking through page after page of possible numbers, knowing that whichever one I choose, I will use for possible the rest of my life. I finally settled on (202) 495 (which is the Washington Beltway, so my number is also "inside the beltway") and 4 digits that have only two numbers (easy to remember and type).

Kudos to Google - in particular Craig Walker- for using social media to listen to the feedback on its products and responding so quickly.