the.com/google voice
a free phone number that forwards your life to whichever device you actually answer.
means a google service that gives you a virtual phone number for calls, texts, and voicemail, routed to any phone or app you choose.
from born from grandcentral, a startup google bought in 2007, then relaunched in 2009 as google voice with transcription and number-porting baked in.
launch year2009, after two years in acquisition limbo
voicemail tricktranscribes messages to text, often hilariously wrong
number portabilitykeeps your number even if you switch carriers
costfree for personal use, no monthly fee ever
for instance
grandcentral — the 2005 startup google acquired to build this in 2007
google fi — sister service sharing the same number-porting infrastructure
craigslist sellers — use it as a burner number to dodge scammers, circa forever