Google Voice & MMS

[SRB]

Hi all.

I'm new here ... please forgive me if I haven't figured out how to do something quite right yet.

In the last couple of days, I came across a thread with info about Google Voice (from DarkJedi, Dec. 2012). I checked it out, signed up for it, started messing with settings and getting everything up and going. The #1 (and really, the only) reason that I want to use something like this is to be able to port my cell number that I REALLY LIKE into it, then if I change phones or service providers, I can just take whatever number they give me, point GV to it, and move on ... theoretically reducing the chance of losing my good number.

Problem: I see that it can't deal with MMS (yet?). I occasionally receive MMS (?) from others, even my boss, which appears to be when they send things to multiple people ... and an occasional picture. Also, I occasionally send out using MMS (small pictures). I feel that I can't lose this option.

Question: Until Google fixes this (if they do), are there other options that someone might recommend that works similar to GV? In reality, I don't care about all the related voicemail and other options. I mainly like the idea of having a place to park my good number if I change services, without having other companies possibly screwing things up.

Thanks in advance for any responses!

 

[bhero]

Sign up with sprint their MMS works with gv. Use your actual cell number to send rec MMS to those few people. you could try email. Works great for . Gv has a lot of pluses that are hard to see until you use it. I mean commit.

 

[SRB]

I need to stay away from Sprint ... big coverage holes in places that I go to regularly.

I was considering the option of sending directly from the phone. That doesn't help on my receiving end, however, if the sender doesn't know they have to use a different number for pics/etc. That kinda defeats the whole purpose of having the one number that is always used, without anyone having to think about it.

On the GV features... I do like that all phones ring on an incoming call ... pretty cool!

 

[electricpete]

There may be lots of good reasons to use gv. I don't think keeping your number is one (unless you're talking multiple devices). If you are in US, you'll be able to port your number to any carrier

EDIT-OK, never mind, I SEE WHAT YOU MEAN.. Having a GV number LET'S YOU CHANGE CARRIERS WITHOUT PORTING

 

[SRB]

I agree that it looks like GV does some pretty cool things!

I think, however, that the MMS problem will probably be the dealbreaker for me not wanting to use it.

 

[slipkn0t2012]

I have all my pictures save to dropbox automatically, and send the link to people. So when they click it, viola. Mms always receives for me, just comes as "email".

 

[SRB]

There may be lots of good reasons to use gv. I don't think keeping your number is one (unless you're talking multiple devices). If you are in US, you'll be able to port your number to any carrier

EDIT-OK, never mind, I SEE WHAT YOU MEAN.. Having a GV number LET'S YOU CHANGE CARRIERS WITHOUT PORTING

Yup. For some reason, I kinda have this fear that if I change carriers and re-port a handful of times, it would be more likely that something would get screwed up and I'd lose my number.

 

[SRB]

I have all my pictures save to dropbox automatically, and send the link to people. So when they click it, viola. Mms always receives for me, just comes as "email".

From what I keep reading in various places, it seems that the receiving is the main problem ... if you're not using Sprint. I read that the reason that things kinda work ok with Sprint is because they made a deal with Google.

I can figure out various ways to send a picture, but I don't want others to have to figure out "special" things that they have to do to send a picture to me ... and that doesn't even count those that don't even know what MMS is or that their phone is using it.