We are big fans of Google Voice. As a matter of fact, we were using it (and already had four numbers!) back when it was still called GrandCentral, long before it was bought by Google. All of our friends have GV numbers and use them in place of their main cell numbers; in all honesty, we don't even remember their cell numbers anymore.
If you recall, iPhone had a GV Mobile app developed independently. Google then tried to get their GV app approved, but were denied.
Even though we are power users of the GV service, we have not used GV Mobile iPhone app as frequently as we would have liked to. The whole inability to run the app in a background, and the fact that you have to launch it separately from the phone app, breaks the work flow.
When we got the Nexus One, it was something of a breath of fresh air: the "same" GV app that iTunes blacklisted is integrated into the Nexus' Android 2.1 OS.
Set up is a breeze. If the Google account you used to configure your Nexus One has GV associated with it, you are pretty much done. Make sure to launch the Google Voice app, go to the settings, and decide how you would like to handle calls on your phone.
Feeling a bit adventurous — remember, we're using this unlocked Nexus on the AT&T network with only EDGE support for Internet – we selected "Use Google Voice to make all calls."
FREEDOM AT LAST! BWAHAHAHAHA!
No kidding. We really felt liberated, because we use GV service every day, but couldn't take full advantage of the service's benefits while on iPhone.
Let's go back 12-15 years, before VOIP technologies emerged. Do you remember paying crazy money for your long distance calls? Heck, you even had to select a price plan for your home phone based on which area code and number combination you are planning to call more often. In less than 10 years, all that has vanished, and we look at the whole telephony thing as a mere commodity.
After using nothing but a Google Voice/Nexus One/ATT EDGE combination with favorable results, we can understand why the Death Star should be afraid — very afraid — of Google Voice or similar services. While the phone call quality on GV via EDGE wasn't stellar, it was still good enough for us to continue using the service.
After this type of experience, you start thinking: if access to Internet becomes ubiquitous (let's assume at least in major Metro areas), why would we even bother to get Telco cell service? We would prefer to buy an unlocked device/phone with Internet access and be done with it. No more minutes to worry about, no more paying crazy money for SMS, etc., etc.
We would like to make a point that Google Voice integration on the Nexus One is a killer feature for us. Mind you, we use service frequently, so access to GV via a cell phone in an uninterrupted manner is important to us.
Folks who don't use Google Voice, or don't rely on it as much, may not understand our enthusiasm – but over time, they will. The future is here.
We will continue our Nexus One review with intermittent break, Nexus One goes on vacation.
Nexus One, Day One: iPhone Comparison (Initial Impressions)
Nexus One, Day Two: iPhone Comparison – It's All About Battery Management
Nexus One, Day Three And Four: iPhone Comparison – Picture/Video Management, Android User Interface
Nexus Vs. iPhone Comparison (Day 5): Battle of the Typing – Typing Speed And Accuracy
Nexus One, Day 6: Nexus One and Speech Recognition from Google
Nexus One, Day 7 & 8: Nexus One And Google Voice Integration
Accessories & Apps: Beta Testers Wanted
iOS Firmware/IPSW Download Guide
Legacy iTunes Download Archive
App Store Top Charts
iPhone and Android Resale Value Charts
USA iPhone Carrier Plans Compared
Complete iPhone Jailbreaking Guide 
Complete iPhone Specification Matrix 
Call quality has nothing to do with your EDGE connection. Google Voice doesn’t make calls via your phone’s Internet connection – that’s done via pstn, it actually DIALS a number to connect your call.
The Internet is only only used to send SMS and get voicemail.
Thanks Vito for clarifying.
Your reviews are fairly accurate and well balanced, however, you made a terrible mistale when you state that GV is VoIP. It is not. It is POTS (Plain old telefone system) so it means that whether you have edge, or 3G it will have the same quality.
Pretty balanced article for an iPhone website.
It’s nice to know that not everyone with iPhone is effected by the Steve Jobs reality distortion device.
On T-mobile, it is VOIP. If you do not have a data connection, you are not making a call using Google Voice. I don’t know if the Google Voice app works the same over AT&T’s network, but it is definitely VOIP on T-mobile. I’ve been using the Google Voice app on T-mobile since its launch and I’ve rarely used contract minutes.
I would also like to add that, although I already own the Nexus, I am enjoying your review of it. It has been the best so far, pointing out the phones strengths and weaknesses.
@Veronica Orozco: You might want to check your T-Mobile bill. GV does require a data connection, but still uses voice minutes to make your call. Same thing on Blackberry.
Can someone explain if Google voice is truly using your minutes on T-mobile and ATT. I’m just a little confused on how this process works.
Excellent review, even more so considering the astoundingly low quality of reviews I’ve seen elsewhere. Well done!
@kelvinbushan Google Voice (GV) provides you with a separate phone number and of course the service is free. With your smartphone setup with a GV app, it routes your outbound calls to the GV service transparently, which then forwards your call with your GV number showing on the recipient’s caller ID. For those who still have MyFaves or with Verizon’s Friends & Family feature, they can make the main GV number (916-538-3466) one of their favorite numbers so outbound calls do not deduct from their anytime minutes. For most, this will allow them to drop down to the least expensive plan.
For inbound calls, GV allows you to designate which of your phones you want to ring when someone calls your GV number. It will ring your cell, home and work phones at the same time if you want it to. This is convenient if you have cordless phones around the house. At work, I have a headset which makes it easier to talk. By answering another phone besides your cell, you don’t use cell minutes. Also, GV provides voice mail service and it translates the message to text and sends it via email or sms. Very convenient and allows you do a text search later. As a bonus, you’ll never use minutes to listen to messages. All carriers, as far as I know, charge users to listen to voicemail.
Lastly, GV provides free sms service via the data channel rather than the sms channel. This means you can stop paying for sms provided by the carrier.
This goes to show how consumer oriented Google is by making it possible to pay less while adding useful features. Going off on a slight tangent, of course Apple has other ideas. The last thing they want is an app that would threaten its lucrative carrier agreements. They bring the luxury market paying luxury prices. Free navigation of the iPhone?? Not likely. Look at how much they must make from navigation app purchases and subscriptions.
@kelvinbushan Unless you’re using that MyFavs trick, it is using your minutes.
I agree that the speech recognition on the Nexus is very good but there is one problem for us Brits – we have to try and assume an American accent in order to get accurate recognition.
If I say, “Can you pass the butter”, with my normal British accent, (imagine how the BBC might say it), there is no chance that it will be correctly recognized but if I say, “Can ya paas the budda”, it gets it right every time.
Unlike the speech recognition system in Windows 7 there doesn’t seem to be any way to train it to your voice. Anybody got any ideas?
I tried saying, “Life is candy and the sun is a ball of butter,” with a british accent, and had major problems. As soon as I sang it like Barbra Streisand, “Life’s candy an da sun’s a ball uh budda!” it recognized it. ; )