I use Google Voice as my main number. Even though my actual cell plan has a different number, nobody knows that. They call my Google Voice (GV) number. When I call them they see my GV number on Caller ID.
- You need a calling plan
– GV uses your minutes for BOTH incoming and outgoing calls
– Incoming calls are forwarded by Google to your cell (non-GV) number
– Outgoing calls are made by calling a special number (but on Android, GV takes care of that, you don’t really know it’s happening. I don’t know about non-Android phones)
– Supposedly you can make calls via WiFi and save your minutes with an add-on program. But in my experience WiFi calling does not work at all.
– GV lets you direct incoming calls to any phone (or phones, it can ring multiple phones simultaneously).
– GV’s web interface lets you make outgoing calls from any phone.
– So you can save minutes by using a landline. That’s what I do during the day while I’m at work.
So the Google number doesn’t make your cell phone cheaper, but it adds a lot of features.