The Best Updated Google Voice Alternatives in 2022

Google Voice is a popular Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service by Google. It was launched in 2009 and is available as a web app, an Android app, and an iOS app.

The company announced it will retire Google Voice in March 2019 for all non-Project Fi users (including those with data-only devices). The Project Fi group will continue to have access to the full suite of Google Voice features.

Google has been known to shut down services that it does not think are successful or that the company deems as no longer worth its investment. Some examples include Google Reader, Aardvark, and Google Hangouts On Air/Hangouts API.

What You Should Know About Google Voice

When you’re just launching a small business or a startup​, it’s difficult to get a business phone number. A lot of small businesses rely on their personal numbers or numbers from other VoIP providers.

In addition, people have different ways of answering calls. It is not unusual for one person in a household to pick up the landline when someone else answers the cell phone and vice versa.

Google Voice eliminates the need to have multiple phone numbers or accounts by giving you one number that can be used with all of your phones. Google Voice also allows for easy management of call forwarding, blocking, and voicemail.

How does Google Voice work?

Google Voice uses an internet connection to make and receive phone calls. You can use your current devices or Google’s Hangouts app to make outgoing calls. Audio data is transmitted via Voice over IP (VoIP) at the cost of your internet connection’s bandwidth. When you need to receive incoming calls, simply route the call to one of the 10 available phone numbers.

No desk phones or landlines are required As long as you have an internet connection, you can make and receive calls. Google Voice alternative ,xinix provides free phone numbers to every user in the U.S. and Canada, allowing them to choose any area code they want for their number. In addition, xinix gives users a temporary number so when placing international calls, one could use a local zip code from wherever they are located.

Is Google Voice Being Discontinued?

Google is a company known for canceling service vias email without any prior notice. On July 17, 2018, Google announced that it would be retiring the direct carrier billing option for all non-Fi users on September 17th of this year.

Google has also stated in its blog post that they will be turning down support for XMPP messaging in future releases of the Hangouts apps. What this means for users is limited or no access to the in-app chat feature.

According to a Google spokesperson, Project Fi customers will still be able to continue using their existing Google Voice number when they migrate over from Project Fi. However, they will only have access to voice calling and voicemail features when on cellular networks with their Project Fi devices.

This change will allow Google to focus on bringing new and improved communication features and enhancements to Project Fi users through Hangouts and the upcoming RCS and VoLTE capabilities of Android Messages.

Google Voice does not work with Google’s revolutionary business phone system, Falcon. This means that companies wanting or needing a multi-line business phone system are out of luck.

Does Microsoft have a Google Voice equivalent?

Microsoft’s 365 Business Voice product is designed for small businesses, helping them set up a business number, have the phone forwarded to their phones, provide call management features, and access additional Microsoft products.

However, unlike Google Voice, this product requires an Office 365 account. This means that companies need to have either E1 or Business Premium subscriptions to take advantage of the services provided by Microsoft’s cloud phone system.

Additionally, Microsoft’s offering requires all calls to originate from a SIP-enabled or PSTN phone and terminate on the same device. If the call is initiated and terminates on different devices, there is a disconnection. This does not happen with Google Voice.