Overview: 

Google Voice is a communication tool that offers useful features that any single telephone device cannot. Through one interface, it manages all of your phone numbers and provides unique communication options between your own devices and with the people and places you call. Google Voice can simplify the way you use your phones.

Video: 
 

Uses:

Google Voice features:

• One number for all of your phones 
• Establish a new number or use your mobile number
• Online voicemail interface
• Downloadable voicemail
• Save voicemail for as long as you want
• Organize, search, prioritize voicemail
• Auto transcribe voicemail to text and forward via email or text
• Define which phones ring, based on who's calling
• Customize your callers experience
• Change voicemail greeting based on who is calling 
• Email messaging
•  Send a text via google phone
• Embed code for a voicemail or recorded conversation
• Use as audio input for blogs or websites 
• Cheap/free calling in the U.S. and Canada 

System Requirements:

• Operating system: Windows XP, Vista, Mac, Linux
• Web browser: IE6 & above, Firefox 3 & above, Safari 3 & above, Google Chrome
• Flash 8 and above required: Visit the About Adobe Flash Player page to find your version of Flash or confirm that you've already downloaded it.

Pros and Cons:
 

Pros:

• Free
• Nothing to download, upload, or install
• ListenInTM on voicemail before answering a call
• You don't have to make or take calls using a desktop computer
• Users outside of the U.S. can use Call Phone in Gmail to make international calls at our affordable rates
• Google Voice Lite is available (scaled back features) if you do not want to change your phone number

Cons:

• Text messages will only be sent to phones listed as Mobile.
• Only supported in the United States
• Mobile phone with a U.S. number is required
• Sprint is the only US carrier that allows you to integrate your existing phone number

Alternatives:

FreedomPop: FreedomPop is advertised as a 100% free mobile phone and wireless internet service. 

Grasshopper: Apple and Android users can use this paid subscription app to set up call forwarding, voicemail transcription, toll free and local numbers, extensions, and more.

Line: Line is available on all smartphone devices (and PCs) and allows free messaging as well as voice and video calls.

MightyText:  Android users can send and view SMS and MMS texts in one place using this app.  MightyText offers one click photo and video sharing and social media notification and post synching. 

Skype: Skype allows users to communicate with other Skype users across the world using audio, video, or chat for free.  Users can send files and photos of any size, make group calls of up to 25 people, or for low rates, call mobile and landlines. 

Resources:
 

Google. (n.d.). Google Voice Support. (2015). Retrieved on June 28, 2015 from https://support.google.com/voice/answer/115061?hl=en

Ravenscraft, E. (2014, July 8). How to Ditch Google Voice (and Keep All the Best Features).Retrieved July 5, 2015

     from http://lifehacker.com/how-to-ditch-google-voice-and-keep-all-the-best-featur-1601649018