So, I've scoured the internet to find out how to use Google Voice with my Sprint account. You can use it for voicemail without incurring any forwarding charges, but I'm not sure if they will allow you any of the plans that would make it possible for all of your calls via GV to be free, i.e. not count against your minutes. I'll updated when I find out more.
Last Update: 07/08/10
Using Google Voice for Voicemail
You can use conditional forwarding on Sprint, which is now FREE (Sprint) (GV). Conditional forwarding makes no answer / busy / out of service area calls go to your Google Voice number (xxxxxxxxxx):
- To Activate conditional call forwarding, dial *28xxxxxxxxxx (Do not use a 1 in front of the phone number.)
If you attempt using the *28 feature and you are not successful in activating it, call the Sprint Tech department. They can activate the *28 feature on their end. Make sure you have the Google Voice phone number to give to them.
Note, unconditional call forwarding (*72) is the one that costs 20 cents a minute. You don't want that.
- To DEactivate conditional call forwarding, dial *38 (don't forget to hit CALL after you input *38)
Q1: Does it use my anytime minutes when someone leaves a message?
A: Yes, but so does Sprint Voicemail! So no difference.
Using Google Voice for Calls
Q2: How does Sprint handle free cell to cell calls if I use Google voice for incoming/outgoing calls? Are they still free if I am using Google Voice? The answer is:
- All calls, incoming or outgoing via Google Voice, are billed as LAND line calls, so using GV for your calls eliminates the benefit of your free cell to cell calls. So you probably DON'T want to use GV for your calling. Some people on the web have suggested that calls FROM a cell phone to you via GV don't use minutes, but I think that is incorrect. ALL GV calls use minutes. See http://www.google.com/voice/
sprint - Don't forget, if you have unlimited nights/weekends, those calls are still free if you are using GV.
Ways to make all calls FREE using GV?
It is conceivable that you could use either the Pick 3 plan or the Sprint to Home service, using your GV number as one of your Picks or Home number. However, I'm not sure if Sprint offers these anymore. I'm checking.
Pick 3
With this service, you pick three numbers that you call all the time, and they don't count against your minutes. If one of these is your GV number, then all calls to and from that number would be free.
Sprint to Home Service
This service allows you to call home for free from your cell phone, for a mere $5 per month. If you tell them that your GV number is your home number, all calls using GV would presumably be free. Sprint, however, does not offer this service anymore.
How to make the free calls if you can get one of the above two service:
Inbound Calls: For inbound calls to be free, people need to
- Call you on a cell phone (free on Sprint) OR
- Call your GV number from a land line.
- Calls directly to your cell number from a land line will be charged against your minutes.
Outbound Calls: For outbound calls to be free, you need to
- Call your friends on their cell phones (free on Sprint) OR
- Call their land lines using your GV access number (not your GV number). WARNING: FYI, be careful with Google Voice and watch the number your phone is actually dialing. Google Voice uses access numbers which change periodically, and are NOT the same as your GV number. So, just because you have your Google Voice number set as your Sprint to Home or Pick 3 doesn't mean you are necessarily dialing that number. OR
- Use a "Callback" app like Google Voice Callback (free) in combination with either Sprint to Home or Pick3. This ensures that you are calling out over your GV number instead of the GV access number.
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