Just switched my wife, myself, and our friend from Sprint to Ting. I didn't realize I would lose Sprint's Google Voice integration when I moved, so I'm floundering to figure out the most efficient way to route usage over wifi. I'm hoping folks can de-mystify some of this for me.
Goals:
- Get all text messaging to happen over data, so we can turn text messaging off entirely.
- Have the option of both making and receiving calls via wifi
- Not have to give all my friends a new phone number
Background:
- Wife and I use Samsung Galaxy S3's; friend is on an iPhone. Concentrating on my getting my phone set up first.
- I've had Google Voice for years, but integrated with my Sprint number. When we left Sprint, my Voice number ceased to exist.
- Currently able to use Hangouts to make outbound wifi phone calls, but otherwise not routing anything over wifi.
With Sprint GV integration, I was able to do all this wifi calling and data-only SMS through Hangouts using one phone number. I gather that the standard way of doing Ting efficiently on Android is to use GV and GrooveIP, but it seems I would need to get both a new GV number and a RingTo number, then route one of them to the other, give all my friends my new phone number, then... I start to lose it on how I would set all this up. Also wondering if I should port my existing number to somewhere, but that comes with fees, so I want to know what I'm doing before pulling the trigger on that.
It seems quite complicated, and it also seems like the offerings in this space are changing constantly, so that the best solution in three months may be radically different.
Any advice on how to accomplish my goals with minimal hassle?