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No, this is incorrect. You're not understanding how Google Voice works. The facts that you're talking about, along with someone else who replied to you above are related to using Google Voice in conjunction with other services or other configurations (if you have the app installed, etc). Google Voice works regardless of having a data connection or not--the basic concept is that someone calls your Google Voice number, and it automatically forwards to your normal number. That's a very stripped down explanation, and not EXACTLY how it works.

Now, when someone calls your Google Voice number, their number is recognized by Google. If that caller's number has never called a GV user, it will prompt them to state their name for the call screening, etc. You then receive a call from Google Voice. Depending on your setup, this will usually not be the number of the caller, but another number assigned by GV. From that point forward, anytime you call that GV number back, it will display your GV number to that caller, acting as a mask in both directions.

Furthermore, you have the option anytime you want, to place a call on GV, from your GV number, by simply calling your own GV number, and then placing a call--similar to the concept of calling with a calling card.

Your cell #: 111-555-1212
Your GV number #: 123-456-7890
You dial 123-456-7890, from your cell phone number, 111-555-1212. You're then prompted (after password, depending on your settings) with a menu, asking if you'd like to check messages, place a call etc. If you place a call, the person who receives the call will see # 123-456-7890. However, if you directly dial a person's regular number from your cell phone, they will see 111-555-1212, unless you have things set up to automatically show your GV number.

Also, when a person calls you, from # 111-999-9999, and dials your GV, 123-456-7890, you will see a call from xxx-xxx-xxxx, which is a mask from GV, basically that persons GV number, regardless of if they've signed up for GV or not. Now, if you place a call to xxx-xxx-xxxx, regardless from which number you're calling from, they'll see your GV number on caller ID.

That's probably a lot more confusing now... but if you just use GV for a little bit, you'll fully understand. Since it's free, you may as well just try it out.Bottom line: GV does not require data services, and you can always give out your GV number and receive calls on it, as well as place calls from that number--data plan or not. Works on landlines too.

To those of you who own the iPhone 5 and trying to unlock it to use as prepaid, did you pay unsubsidized price to get it? Or, did you sign a contract with a post-paid cellular company and cancelled the contract within 30 days and kept the phone? How did you do it?

I signed up for a 2-year contract with Verizon, cancelled within 3 days (to get a refund of the activation fee) and paid the ETF. The phone is unlocked, but won't connect on LTE except when on Verizon post-paid. It works fine at 3G+ speeds on Straight Talk (which is what I'm using now).

Thanks for the additional info. How come I can't rep you? Are you a mod or something? hehe

Anyway, I guess I was asking about something a little different than what you just explained. You explained what I understood was the first form of Google Voice.. but since then, they've begun providing VOIP integration, where you can dial directly from the GV number, and have calls go directly to your phone, bypassing both traditional cellular networks as well as the Google Voice POTS relay. On Android, you can have calls routed through the GV app, allowing you to place voip calls over wifi right from the Dialer program.

My original question was, if you're using the GV app integration, what happens if you lose your data signal and someone calls you. My guess is that GV will just go through your list of forwarding numbers, provided you've set them up. And naturally, you'd set your traditional cell number as one of the forwarded numbers.

The logic would be... "1st try connecting to GV app directly over data; if no answer or dead client, call the next forwarding number, 111-555-1212".

I signed up for a 2-year contract with Verizon, cancelled within 3 days (to get a refund of the activation fee) and paid the ETF. The phone is unlocked, but won't connect on LTE except when on Verizon post-paid. It works fine at 3G+ speeds on Straight Talk (which is what I'm using now).

Thanks for the reply; I've given you reputation points.

I am looking for an inexpensive provider that gives me "unlimited" 4G or HSPA+ data connection. I am currently in a post-paid 2-year AT&T family plan contract that just ended (it has unlimited text and tons of minutes, but no data).

Tofu Vic

This is incorrect, as I was trying to explain in my previous post. Which is why seamless calling works on landlines too. Once using GV, every caller will have two numbers--their original number, and a mask assigned by GV. All you have to do to initiate seamless calling, is directly call the GV mask number from any number.

In other words, you will always call a person using their GV number, regardless of if they actually have GV and use it or not. This creates seamless calling. People that have/use GV--their mask will be their GV number. Others will be a number that GV assigns to them until they sign up and select a different GV number of their own.

not to be picky but it says 0.48 for me right now...

If anyone wants help unlocking their iPhone let me know.

Just a question about google voice if you don't mind. I wanted to confirm if it's true that, if you don't have data coverage where you are, then your GV voice number just forwards to whatever number your cell phone is now associated with? And you'd call out with that number as well, if there's no service? Which means your friends might not recognize the number, but at least you can make a call...?

If anyone wants help unlocking their iPhone let me know.

nice so you got an iphone for $350? maybe plus the first month?