Port cell # to Google, then forward to work iPhone?

[MoonPilgrim]

Should I cancel my AT&T plan and port my personal cell number to Google Voice, which could then forward calls to my employer-funded smartphone?  (Unless I completely misunderstood how it works.)

The other option is to give up the personal cell number altogether and tell everyone to just call me on my work phone.  My employer is pretty laid back and understands that it sucks to carry two phones everywhere--so no real issue there with throwing it all in one pot.

My two hangups with the second option are privacy--it technically IS my employer's phone, there's no text plan on the phone, and I hate to switch to a number that I know I won't be keeping for more than a few years (because I'm going to retire early, goshdarnit!).  That's why I was thinking GV.

[Daley]

Yeah, pretty much. You are going to wind up basically giving your employer call records for personal calls, though (whether you have GV pass through caller id or not), and even if he's cool with it, it kind of falls into an ethical gray area in my books... but yeah, pretty much. You will need data access for SMS messages via Google Voice, though.

[arebelspy]

If employer is okay with it, I'd definitely port rather than get rid of - only costs $20 one time, and then you keep your number (don't have to change it with a million companies and people that have it).  And if you stop working for them, you lose the company phone, but can keep your personal one and just forward it to whatever new phone you get.

[RoseRelish]

Pretty smart idea here to port the number to Google Voice. I don't even bother carrying my work phone unless I'm on a work trip, so it's mostly a waste of money for them - other than the e-mail function during my commute. If they allowed text messaging and iPhones, I'd probably consider taking on the headache of carrying just the 1 phone.

[savingtofreedom]

MoonPilgrim - this is pretty much what I did.  I wasn't able to take my old cell number with me so got a new google voice number and the calls are sent to my work number.  I haven't had any issues with it yet.  I am also not a huge phone talker so wasn't a big deal.  My only concern would be if you have an outside business/side gig and were sending your phone calls to your work phone.

Seems like a no brainer to me - should be a nice yearly savings!!  Also, google voice may charge you sometime in the future but I believe it is free for 2013.

[NumberJohnny5]

If you're worried about the privacy thing, and happen to have more data than you can shake a stick at, make/receive Google Voice calls directly from the iphone (need to have a high speed connection available, whether 3g/4g or wifi).  It looks like Talkatone will do that on the iphone, though I have no experience with that (I use Groove IP for android; works fine as long as it has a fast enough connection).

[arebelspy]

If you're worried about the privacy thing, and happen to have more data than you can shake a stick at, make/receive Google Voice calls directly from the iphone (need to have a high speed connection available, whether 3g/4g or wifi).  It looks like Talkatone will do that on the iphone, though I have no experience with that (I use Groove IP for android; works fine as long as it has a fast enough connection).

Talkatone is a good solution for this; I've used it and can confirm it works well.

[Daley]

I know people love Talkatone with Google Voice on their smartphones, but there's two issues that users really should consider:

1) Security. You're handing over your Google credentials to a third party who stores that information on their servers.

2) Safety. The whole cellphone radiation health concern is still up in the air, and even if it's non-ionizing, it's still been confirmed that cell phone radiation heats brain tissue during exposure. Doing VoIP with a data connection is going to expose you to a larger radiation dose than with just a traditional voice call.

Even if you're fine with the risks and take steps to minimize them, at least be aware of them.

[Honest Abe]

I know people love Talkatone with Google Voice on their smartphones, but there's two issues that users really should consider:

1) Security. You're handing over your Google credentials to a third party who stores that information on their servers.

2) Safety. The whole cellphone radiation health concern is still up in the air, and even if it's non-ionizing, it's still been confirmed that cell phone radiation heats brain tissue during exposure. Doing VoIP with a data connection is going to expose you to a larger radiation dose than with just a traditional voice call.

Even if you're fine with the risks and take steps to minimize them, at least be aware of them.

I keep my cell phone in my pocket... Are my kids okay???!?

[Daley]

I keep my cell phone in my pocket... Are my kids okay???!?

Unless you're keeping your phone in a sporran, I think they'll be fine. ;)

Bulk of the microwaving is gonna be caught by muscle and fatty tissue in your case. Still not technically ideal, but it's better than the brain pan. Thing to keep in mind is antenna placement in relation to the phone and body. Just getting six inches between you and the device drops signal strength exposure immensely.