Here are a few things to keep in mind before you set up your Google Voice Account:

1.    Know which of your GMail accounts you want to associate it with.  Google really wants you to just have one Google Voice account.  If you start really using and liking Google Voice, then you are probably going to want to stay logged into it all day.  This means that if you walk away from your machine (and leave it unlocked), someone else can just sit down there and browse your Google Voice, GMail, Google Docs, etc.

2.    Be prepared to choose a phone number.  Ideally, if you have a friend with Google Voice, ask them to initiate changing their own phone number in front of you so that you can browse the choices.  After your account is set up, you can change your phone number once for $10.  (You may be able to do this every 90 days – it hasn’t been that long yet for me to test this.)  I am planning on posting my first of many “How to Choose a Good Phone Number” article sometime soon.

3.    Remember that there is no automated way to change associations between Google Voice accounts / phone numbers and GMail accounts.  Likewise, you can only be logged into one Google account per browser, per machine.  (i.e. per browser, not per window, thus one for IE, one for Chrome, etc.)  If you find a phone number that you want for a friend, get that friend to sign up for it.  (quickly – see my previous posting about these numbers going fast.)  If you see a number that love, but don’t know how you are going to use right now, like (999) 4-COFFEE (i.e. (999) 426-3333), then maybe you are better off creating a new GMail account called something like Call.4.Coffee@GMail.com and then creating your Google Voice Account using that GMail account.  It can always forward messages to your regular account, but if you decide to give it away, it won’t be tied to your personal GMail account.  (I have heard rumors that these connections might be changeable by people inside of Google, but I get the feeling that it is only done for VIPs.)

4.    Be prepared to set up a connection with at least one real phone number right away.

5.    Remember that each Mobile phone number can only be associated with one Google Voice Number.  Likewise, each Home or Work phone number can only be associated with a maximum of two Google Voice Numbers.

Originally, the founders of GrandCentral either started or were heavily involved with something called Project CARE (Communications and Respect for Everybody).  Project CARE allowed people without phone service to have a free VoiceMail account of their very own, to help them be a more active part of society.  (It’s even harder to find a job if you don’t have a phone number.)  http://www.grandcentral.com/projectcare/  I don’t know what it takes to go through proper channels and set up a Google Voice account for someone using Project CARE, but if you are trying to do the same thing for someone that you know on your own, keep in mind that you can set up a Google Voice Account to share one of your own phone numbers, then uncheck that phone number (but leave it on the Google Voice Account) so that it never actually rings.  Of course, you are limited by the number of actual phone numbers that you have and your friend could re-enable ringing on your phone number for their calls.

As always, I hope that some of this was helpful.

Steven @ GoogleVoiceSecrets.com