Google Voice!

I am happy to say that I have been invited in using Google Voice! I have been waiting to test this technology out for awhile as this solution will work perfectly for my wife and I. We are both mobile in our jobs and in life, so our cell phones are what keep us together when we are away from each other. Whether it is a long phone call, a quick text message or a update on our facebook pages, we are always in touch.
The Google Voice now is able to bridge that gap of having our friends and family hunt us down.   Previously our mothers would have to call one phone # and leave a message and then call another number to find us.    Now with Google Voice they can just call one number to get either one of us!   The most amazing part of it is that we were able to get an area code of my home town and a number of our last name.    How lucky was that?    The phone number actually resides in Dixon, California, but the area code is the same as my home town.
The setup was quick and simple, it actually took me longer to decide on a number as opposed of configuring it for my phone.   Here the steps that was taken...

1.  Received an invitation email from Google to open a free Google Voice account.
2.  The invitation email send you to the Google Voice log in page to verify your Google account.
3.  Once you log in for the 1st time Google will ask to search for a number for you to use. I forgot to capture the images for this as I was too caught up on the excitement of searching for phone numbers.    At 1st I was thinking of our wine business and trying to find a phone number for PriceWine or ###-Wines.   Google was able to find several options for ###-WINES, but the area code was too far away for me to use.    Then I narrowed down the search by entering in my preferred area code or preferred zip code.    Lots of available options were available for local numbers of area code 707, 415 or 805, which would have been great for my business. Then I tried searching my last name "ORNELAS", and presto!   Only one number came up, which was a 707 area code number. How could I pass that up?   Was it fate that my new family phone number will have my home town area code and my last name!
4.  I quickly choose that number as I was feared that someone else would somehow grab it.   Google Voice then asks what phones would you like this number to ring on.    I forgot to capture images of this as well, but was able to add my mobile phone and my wife's mobile phone to it.   Basically you enter in your phone number and Google will prompt you with a two digit PIN.    Then you will need to choose the Call Now button and Google will call your phone and you have to enter in the PIN number on your phone when prompt.    Note, you must have cell reception otherwise it will just leave a voice mail and you will have to try it again.
5. Then I called my wife and gave her the PIN, along with my excitement of scoring the phone number of our last name! Entered in her number and wham! the phone was verified.
6. After entering in the PIN, you have the option of leaving your name and greeting.  
7. Once you are finished entering in your phone numbers you are taken to your Google Voice Mailbox and from there it is just like navigating your email. --- With this new tool, Google has again gone above and beyond in impressing me with their ability to offer free and low cost products that work with the users.