Top Ten Google Voice Hacks and Tips

Just over a year ago Google had released their web based platform for communications - Google Voice. The only catch was that you need to request and receive an invitation to try it out. Now Google Voice has been opened to the public with no invitation required. It is packed with an array of cool features for sophisticated telephony.   In order to use Google Voice you need to configure your current phones to work with it. The application can be used in conjunction with the mobile phone and VoIP services. To make your work on Google Voice more interesting you might receive an invitation to try it out.

1. Try to create bookmarks/favorites or desktops shortcuts that act as the speed dials

Most of the contact in Google Voice has a unique URL at the mobile version of the site. In case you click on the contact, its URL must be brought to you there and is unique to that particular contact. It is not URL which will automatically start the call, its just one click away. Click on "call" once at a page.

2. Google Voice works with Gizmo

It's similar to Skype in that it is a VoIP application that you can run on your computer(Win, Mac, Linux) or mobile phone . It's quite similar to Skype. The major advantage that  Gizmo has over Skype is that it might work with Google Voice number. It might be your answer to any of the GV calls the Gizmo the Gizmo app.
With Gizmo Users can use it to make free incoming and free 3 minute outgoing calls from your computer. Before a few days/weeks posts filtered in there are being actual feature to pair up your GV account & Gizmo to be able to dial out directly from Gizmo without having to pay for the first 3 minutes of call out credit/any in credit or having to login to google.com/voice and start the call from the GV web interface.
Their is a setup with an ATA device and you might be able to make free 3 minute outgoing calls and receive unlimited free incoming calls using a land line phone. (ie: an old SunRocket or Vonage box)
You might be able to make free 3 minute outgoing calls and receive unlimited free incoming calls using a landline phone without needing to run a computer.

3. Try to use GV for just it's voicemail capabilities

You might not use the 2nd all purpose, forwarding number. Just set your Google Voice account to Do-not-disturb and just use GV for the voicemail service. The transcriptions have a long way to go and it appears it does much better with female/higher pitched voices. Most of the time you might get the caller trying to get across. They might first try and read the voicemails that is already 10x better than having to sit through the long drawn out voicemail prompts.

• To set this up Login to your account go to the settings (General tab) and scroll down and check "Enable Do Not Disturb".
• To setup the call forwarding as mentioned earlier just forward the GV number for all three options (busy, no reply and unrecheable). This will effectively replace the providers voicemail service with Google Voice.
• All what you are doing is simply installing the Add-on, click on a phone number on web page. The user might receive a call from the GV number and it will connect you to the number.
• Setup the call forwarding as mentioned earlier to forward to your GV number for all three options (busy, no reply and unreachable)

4. Call from your GV number

Users can make the outgoing calls of your GV number (recipient's caller ID would shouw GV too) from any phone
Step 1:  Dial your GV number
Step 2: Press *
Step 3: Dial your GV voicemail pin
Step 4: Press 2
Step 5: Dial the number that you wish to call
Your GV number was 111-222-3333, pin 1234 and outgoing call 999-888-7777. Dial 111-222-3333 * 1234 2 999-888-7777#

5. Use GV for just a voicemail

This is for those who don't need to use the 2nd all purpose forwarding number. Just set your Google Voice account to do-not-disturb (or you don't need to enter any forward number). Use GV for it's voicemail service. The transcription still has a long way to go and it does better with female/higher pitched voices. Most of the time you might get the gist of what the caller is trying to across. They might be able to first try and read your voicemail prompts as it is already 10X better than having to sit through the long drawn voicemail prompts.
Login to your account, go to the settings (General tab) and scroll down and check "Enable Do Not Disturb".
Set up the call forwarding to forward your GV number for all three options - busy, no reply, and unreachable. The user might effectively replace the providers voicemail service with Google Voice.

6. Firefox extension can be used to make calls using GV on any webpage

This firefox extension is build upon his earlier GrandCentral Click to make any phone number on the webpage clickable that will initiate a call through the Google Voice number. All that you need to do is just install the Add-on, click on a phone number on webpage. You might receive a call from your GV number that will connect you to the number.

7. Create bookmarks/favorites or desktop shortcuts that acts as speed dials

Most contacts in Google Voice have their own, unique URL at the mobile version of the site. In case you click on the contact the URL bought you there is unique to that particular contact. It's not a URL that would automatically start the call, which will still be only one click away. You might click call once at the page.

• Here are some useful ways to utilize it
• You might be able to create a FIrefox bookmark toolbar folder of contact
• Create some desktop shortcuts
• You can even add it as an iPhone webclip

9. Google Voice “Call me” widget for your website

It's a real cool feature in Google Voice for your website. You can make use of the smartestgeek.com(http://smartestgeek.com/contact/). As visitor clicks the widget they are prompted to enter a phone number.  Google Voice will immediately call that phone and when the caller answers it connects them to the user. You might listen to the voicemails that are being recorded by the caller. They might have the option to cut it into the call at anytime by pressing.

10. Voicemail delivered as text messages or email

In case you don't have a web server Google Voice Locations Android app (http://www.androlib.com/android.application.com-techventus-locations-iqpm.aspx) might use the cell tower triangulation to switch the ringing Google Voice phone on the fly. Google Voice could improve it magically with the phones ringing.
Android phone w/data plan and GPS
Locale for Android ($9.99—here's a barcode-scan-able QR code)
Locale GPS Plug-In (Free, QR code)
HTTP Poster and Locale Plug-In (Free, QR code)
Web server w/ PHP 5 (uses cURL and json_decode)
Part-1
Step 1: Download googlevoice-locale.php
Step 2:Open the file for editing, add the Google Voice login and password to the top and save
Step 3: Upload the script to a secret location on your web server
Configure Locale
Step 1: It creates a new situation with a condition of where or when the Google Voice settings should change
Step 2: Add the settings using the HTTP Post plug-in to tell the server which phone to turn off or on
HTTP Post settings:
Step 1: URL: http://yourawesomeserver.com/googlevoice-locale.php?on[]=home&off[]=work (In place of yourawesomeserver.com use the real domain name, and renaming googlevoice-locale.php if you did that earlier).
Step 2: Select GET
Step 3: Save
Step 4: Name, Save and activate the situation
The PHP script is set to toggle numbers using the names that you assigned them on the Google Voice settings page. If your phone is named "Work" use "Work"(lowercase) in the URL.
Possibilities with Google Voice and Locale are endless. Apart from it toggle the phone based on your location. Toggle them whenever you need. Make calls through the Gizmo when you are connected to the home WiFi.

source : http://blog.taragana.com/index.php/archive/top-10-google-voice-hacks-and-tips/