My first venture into the Nerdery here so tia for your patience.

We have a restaurant and during these COVID times have found it useful to use texting as a medium to communicate with guests about when a table is ready and/or when their take-out order is available curbside. Currently we are using an old iPhone number to text which is different than our landline business number. We have never used Google Voice before but it seems like it would be a good alternative for us by allowing us to combine everything under one number and save some money by cancelling our existing landline account with Spectrum. Of course it is imperative that we keep our existing phone number but here is what we would like to do:

1) Be able to text via multiple (2-3) Chromebooks or android tablets
2) Maintain our 3 landline handsets
3) Check voicemail remotely


Seems like Google Voice could do that easily but I don't want to come across any surprises.

Any input/advice?

ol'Porkbelly said:

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1) Be able to text via multiple (2-3) Chromebooks or android tablets
2) Maintain our 3 landline handsets
3) Check voicemail remotely

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1) this is my main use for the Google voice account I set up many many years ago. There's always a risk of Google tinkering with something, but linking the account to Google Hangouts allows you to do this via phone or computer easily

2) I cannot speak to this too well, as it is not my use case, but if I'm logged into Google voice and I get a call, it will ring there. One thing that you can easily do is forward the number on the fly to different cell phones (assuming they've been "approved" through a quick call / enter security number process. If you get an incoming call and want to have it ring to Google voice by pressing * (you can also record an incoming call by pressing 4, and it just says "this call is now being recorded, and it gives a text printout of the recording)

3) this is the easiest of them all, and I actually forward my personal voice mail to my Google voice account because of the dictation available. It hasn't been updated to current tech, but it does a good enough job that it picks up most relevant info (I despise re-listening to voice mails to wait for the phone number to be stated). This dictation is the "killer feature" that I can't believe isn't offered on every voicemail line now.


Overall, porting the number in is very straightforward and takes a few minutes. I've turned several people onto this service, but always warn that it is possible the support could be stopped for no reason at the drop of a hat because they've basically stopped development on it.

Thanks for the input!

My biggest concern would be the fact Google is known for making changes to their non core products without any regard to the world so Google voice could change or be shut down at any point. Another thing to consider is that you wouldn't be able to setup an ivr or any type of auto response system. To provide things like hours of operations or address. Moving to something like Twilio might actually give you more opportunities for better customer service.

dam

I have had Google voice before google bought it, still have $9 credit on it. But would not consider it for anything that absolutely must work, use twilio and asterisk for that.
In general gv is fine and will likely be able to port out your number you ported in if the announce incompatible changes, but there is 0 way to call and talk to someone about anything.
For the cheapest voip i have been using bulkvs and asterisk on pi

Another option to consider is grasshopper.

For anything business critical, I'd avoid Google at all costs. They are notorious for just dropping services when it no longer fits their need. You can see a bunch of stuff they dropped here: https://killedbygoogle.com/

I'd reach out to someone who does business phone systems and ask their thoughts. Google may get you by for a year or so, but it's going to take some work to port your number and it'll be likely you'd need to move it again later.