The Verizon outage proves why you need Google Voice

Service interruptions are inevitable. Whether it’s because my cable box goes down for 5 minutes due to a mandatory firmware update or something more drastic like yesterday’s massive Verizon outage, it’s an inconvenience that can only get worse the longer it goes on.

While the cause of the network shutdown that prevented many Verizon customers from making and receiving calls is still under investigation, I’ve told many people that they should always consider a backup – which is why I’m glad I did I have kept my phone. The Google Voice account has been active all these years.

While I wasn’t personally affected by the outage, despite the way my Visible service runs through the Verizon towers, having a backup is a lesson for everyone. I’m not suggesting that you sign up for another cell phone plan just in case. Instead, you should look for free VoIP-based alternatives as they are convenient.

Everything we do is about connectivity, and the fact that we can’t communicate with people through our phones is a big deal. Many frustrated Verizon customers voiced their concerns on social media, including a handful who emailed me about their personal experiences.

Verizon isn’t the only one struggling with the fallout, as AT&T faced a similar outage earlier this year. With these two outages, I can’t tell you enough why you need Google Voice or something similar as a backup.

Google Voice is free – what more could you want?

(Image credit: Future)

I don’t need another subscription every month to pay out of pocket. With Google Voice, the service is technically free and can be accessed on almost any device – including your desktop web browser.

Google Voice is a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone service that I first subscribed to back in 2010 that allows me to send and receive phone calls and text messages. Even if I don’t use it as my main line, having it as a backup is invaluable in situations like the recent Verizon outage.

All communication is done via the cloud, which is fantastic because I can switch from one device to another and still have access to everything. For example, I can receive text messages on my phone and then return to my desktop PC to send a reply. Another example is that I can receive phone calls directly from my desktop’s web browser.

It’s free to get a new phone number, but the only condition I see for setting up a new service is that an actual phone number is required to link your Google Voice account and a Google account. This is basically a forwarding service to your phone. If you would like to port an existing phone number that you have kept all these years, there is a one-time fee of $20 to port a number.

Otherwise, I have access to unlimited calls and messages. I can’t stress enough that it’s free, so there’s no additional charge for it.

Basic features that get the job done

Google Voice

(Image credit: Google)

Similar to other VoIP services, including one of my favorites in TextNow, Google Voice only requires an internet connection to work. When I traveled to Barcelona to cover Mobile World Congress, I was able to stay in touch with family and friends while I was abroad. It behaves very similarly to other messaging services you know, such as WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, and allows me to message and call other people from almost anywhere.

Sure, it doesn’t offer some of the advanced features common in other messaging services, like read receipts and threaded replies, but the straightforward approach is all I need as a backup. There were a few times when my Visible service didn’t work at all, so I wrote a quick message to a family member on my laptop.

Other Google Voice features I like include the option for anonymous caller ID to hide my number on outgoing calls, forwarding to multiple phone numbers (great if you use Google Voice as a business phone), notifications about missed calls sent to my email address, spam filtering, the ability to transcribe voicemails and more.

At its core, Google Voice is about giving you the ability to stay in touch with people – whether through text messages or phone calls. Because everything is managed and stored in the cloud, everything stays the same across all my devices. When I switch to a new phone, I just install Google Voice and it’s up and running in no time and my messages stay intact. Alternatively, I can log in in any web browser.

Still vulnerable to failures, but it’s a backup

A photo of a phone screen showing the Google Voice app

(Image credit: Google)

Is Google Voice Like Verizon Prone to Outages? Absolutely, but I haven’t experienced one for as long as I can remember. But even if it went down for some reason, I would still have my main Visible line available – although if that goes down too, I’m out of luck. Luckily this hasn’t happened to me yet, but that’s why I also have a TextNow account as a secondary backup.

These days, I keep my Google Voice account active as a business line, routed to two phones, so my business partner and I never miss a message. Ultimately, there’s no harm in having a Google Voice account because it costs nothing and ensures you stay connected when these unfortunate circumstances arise.

The Verizon outage proves why you need Google Voice – how to stay connected

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