Oh, and another thing, if I want to use my google voice number as a hub for all my calls, how does smg work? Lets say I sent a message to a friend with the handcent application. Would my friend see my smg as my old phone number (non-google number) or my Google number? Do I always have to go to the google voice app and send a message to someone (in order for them to see my new google number), or can the google voice smg service be integrated with the handcent or stock messaging application ?
Just curious, because it destroys the purpose of shifting to a new phone number if they see me my old phone number when I send a text. I also wanted to know if google voice made it convenient for users to send a smg via our handcent or stock messaging app.
OK, this might get a little confusing, so I will try and be clear....
Lets say these are the phone numbers in question. I will use letters instead of numbers for clarity.
Your friend Joe: JJJ-JJJ-JJJJ
Your Google Voice number: GGG-GGG-GGGG
Your cell phone number: CCC-CCC-CCCC
If you text Joe (JJJ-JJJ-JJJJ) from Handcent, Joe will see your cell phone number. If you text Joe from the GV app (or GV website / desktop or mobile version), he will see your GV number.
However, lets say Joe texts your GV number. If you have GV set to forward SMS messages to your cell phone, you will receive a text message you can view in Handcent. But, it will not be from Joe's number (JJJ-JJJ-JJJJ). I will be from a number that starts with 406. For example, 406-123-4567. In the text message, Joe's name will be the first part of the message (if he is in your Google contact list, if not, his phone number will be the first part of the text message).
Now, at this point, save Joe's 406 number in your address book as an additional phone number for Joe. Now you have two numbers for Joe, JJJ-JJJ-JJJJ and 406-123-4567. If you call or text Joe from your phone (for example, using Handcent) and you use Joe's 406 number, he will see it coming from your GV number. If you call / text Joe's "real" phone number, JJJ-JJJ-JJJJ, he will see your cell phone number, CCC-CCC-CCCC.
So, the trick is to get your contacts to send you a text message before you contact them. Then, note the 406 number it came from. Save the 406 number as an additional phone number for your contact. Use the 406 number for texts / phone calls and the contact will see your GV number.
Basically, Google knows your cell phone number and combines it with a 406 number to know who to dial. Multiple people can have the same 406 number, but it goes to different contacts. For example, let's say my cell phone number is DDD-DDD-DDDD. Here is what your number and my number would look like (using a contact's 406 number).
DDD-DDD-DDDD + 406-123-4567 = 999-999-9999
CCC-CCC-CCCC + 406-123-4567 = JJJ-JJJ-JJJJ
Is that clear as mud???