Yeah I said it.

Believe me… I was the most psyched person in the world about Google Voice. As you might remember (or if you don’t here is a link), I have a fairly complex phone system. 5 numbers, 3 cellphones, 1 desk phone. I manage it pretty well using Skype (international forwarding/calling, messages) as a hub.

Out comes Google swinging with this awesome idea that you can use a single number as an “Uber Hub”. I start thinking to myself: “Self, you can have one number that gets voice mail (VM) from others, SMSes out, can call internationally for a discount, and can ring any phone as long as you have credit”. I was giddy when I got my invite to the service. I was wrong.

Read on for the full post!

What Google Voice does:

1. Forwards calls to any US number
2. Dials your contact and your cell…connects.
3. Lets you call from your cell with special dialer (BB & Android only)
4. Dial with their international rates (like a call card).
5. SMS within the US for free from the Google Number
6. Forwards SMSes from Google Number to your devices
7. Records VM coming to your Google Number

Before I even consider fully converting I would need:

1. forward to international phones
2. the ability to take over VM services (like YouMail) for ALL devices
3. make me not think about the dialer (there is a paid 3rd party app to do this)

Problem #1:

If I make a call from my dialer while in Dubai, I still pay AT&T roaming on my US line. International forwarding is a MUST. That’s right, including a self sorting way to always call and receive from a local “Google” number even if my main line is US-based.

Problem #2:

Imagine this scenario:

I go to California and meet Michelle. Michelle (disclaimer: not an actual person) is a lovely lady who works for a content producer who my company is likely to do business with. We exchange information and then set up a follow up meeting. Michelle confirms the meeting by SMS that I get on my US (non Goog) number because I am mobile. I reply from that number.

Now Michelle has 2 numbers for me. With my current system it doesn’t matter which of the 5 you call, I pick it up in one place. With Google Voice if she calls the Google number and I don’t pick up it leaves a message in Google. If she calls my US number it leaves a message in Skype.

So I am in Dubai and miss a US call (Michell wants to meet me at MIPCOM in a few months) because I didn’t bring my US cell while I went downstairs for coffee. Now I have two potential sources of VM outside the physical phone on me. This isn’t simpler than what I have already.

Problem #3:

People will exacerbate problem #2 if you can’t make a dialer that “takes over” the phone. On a BB you are introducing a bunch more clicks to the process of calling someone. I’ll do it for international calls to save money… but will not be bothered otherwise. BB and Android are a start… sad to see S60 from Nokia didn’t make the cut as they have more handsets in the market than Google and RIM combined.

There is a third party tool to fix this. It is called GVdialer and was recommended my a commenter in my last post about the topic. I love “the little guy”, but for lasting communication solutions I like big companies. Unfortunately for the GVdialer team I think Google will make this capability free in the near future.

Conclusions:

Now now… Google can (and likely will) fix all 3 rather easily. I imagine these grievances being tended to in the order described here. I would say #1 before ‘09 is out.

However… I have a philosophical question: Who am I doing this for? This costs money and I still have to carry many phones until all 3 of my issues are fixed. Except for adding a decently cool number to my list of ways to be reached… what has Google done for me TODAY? Most people know to reach me by email, skype, or gtalk …. My numbers are appended to every email signature… just call the one you like, makes no difference to me

For now I will just be happy with using my 5 invites to prank people into sexting.

How many phone numbers do you have?

Some of us are lucky enough to just have one, others (like me) don’t have that luxury. To keep sane I have a pretty well sorted system that I use to keep it all in check. Here are my phones and how I sort them:

1. US private/personal mobile number
2. US BlackBerry work mobile number (with attached unlimited world data plan, cheap data no voice plan)
3. US “Desk” Skype number
4. UAE “Desk” phone number
5. UAE mobile

I will let you in on a little secret: there are only two devices.

My ATT BlackBerry is just an email device. I do not give that number out to anyone. The ATT BlackBerry data plan is the cheapest I’ve seen in the world.

Now for the other 4:

My private phone is on a family unlimited US plan. That number calls to my US based skype number which has unlimited international calling. The skype number forwards to my mobile phone from Etisalat in the UAE that has free incoming.

My UAE desk phone forwards to my UAE mobile phone.

My outbound calls are either made through my UAE cell or if international my Skype Out account (connected through a VPN since its blocked in the UAE). Etisalat also happens to have some of the cheapest roaming charges around.

In case I miss a call, my voicemail system sends me an MP3 via email that I can sort and listen to at any time.

I use a Nokia E51 (highly recommended, pictured above) for all my voice calls (including skype through Fring) and a road warrior Curve as my mobile data hub.

In short: Use an online call/routing system to call a line that has free incoming calls as a “hub number”. Have that number be the number where you get a lot of calls from, but not where you local mobile is.

Shoot me an email or leave a comment if you have a better system