Google Voice
lets you send and receive text messages for free on your iPhone. You can even adjust the settings for Google Voice on your iPhone to receive alerts when you get text messages to replicate the look and feel of using the text messaging app you pay for through your wireless provider. All you need to start sending text messages using Google Voice on your iPhone is a Google Voice account.
Instructions
Google Voice Account Setup
1. Open your Web browser and navigate to Google Voice (see Resources).
2. Enter your Google email and password in the "Google Account" box on the right side of the screen and then click "Create an Account" to bring up the Create an Account screen.
3. Enter the required information, which includes your email address, a password and birth date, then click "Accept" to create the account. The Google Voice program opens and the "Choose your number" dialog box appears on the screen.
4. Type your area code, city or zip code on the left, or a keyword on the right. Click "Search available numbers."
5. Select a number from the list of numbers that appear, then click "Continue."
6. Enter a personal identification number to access your voicemail left at this number, then click to check the box to accept Google's terms and privacy policy. Click "Continue."
7. Enter your iPhone number as the forwarding number from your Google Voice account, then click "Continue" to open the Reclaim Your Phone screen. Make sure you are near the forwarding phone at the time.
8. Click "Call me now." Answer the forwarding phone and type in the code on the Reclaim Your Phone screen when prompted. After entering the code, you will have full access to the Google Voice program.
Send Text Messages
9. Tap the "App Store" icon on your iPhone, then tap "Search" along the bottom of the app window.
10. Tap the "Search" box at the top of the app window, type "Google Voice" and then tap "Search" in the lower-right corner of the app window.
11. Tap the "Google Voice" app developed by Google. The name of the developer is listed above the name of the app. You will be redirected to an Info screen.
12. Tap "Free" in the upper-right corner of the app window and then tap "Install" to install the app on your iPhone.
13. Click the "Home" button at the bottom of your iPhone and then tap the "Settings" app.
14. Tap "Notifications" and then tap the "ON/OFF" button to the right of Notifications until "ON" is highlighted. Scroll down to "Google Voice" and tap it. Tap the "ON/OFF" button to the right of Alerts until "ON" is highlighted.
15. Click the "Home" button.
16. Tap the "Google Voice" app you just downloaded.
17.Enter your Google Voice username and password that you previously set up, then tap "Sign In."
18. Tap the phone number for your iPhone beneath "Select from your phones." Tap "Dialer" along the bottom of the Google Voice app window. A phone pad will appear on the screen.
19. Tap the outline of an individual's head and shoulders in the lower-left corner of the app window to select a contact from your iPhone contact list. Scroll through your list of contacts, tap the name of the person you want to send a text, then tap that individual's phone number. Tap "Text." A new text message box will open up on the screen with that individual's number already populated in the "To" field. Alternatively, tap "Text" on the number pad screen to open a new text message. Tap the "To" field and then enter the phone number for the individual you are sending the text message to.
20. Tap the text box below the "To" field and then use the keypad on the lower half of the app window to type the message. Tap "Send" in the upper-right corner of the app window to send a finished message.
21. Tap "View" in the blue Google Voice alert box that pops up on the screen, indicating you have received a text message at your Google Voice phone number. This looks similar to a regular iPhone text message, but it's not recognized by your wireless provider. The Inbox within the Google Voice app opens.
22. Tap the message with the white background at the very top of the app window to open the message.
23. Respond to the message by tapping "Reply by text message" beneath the message. Type your reply message and then tap "Send."
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