Keeping Your Mobile Number with Google Voice

Dialer app in Hangouts

There are several options to keep a US phone number while abroad. For example, T-Mobile has good international travel plans, and Project Fi by Google provides cell service in 120 countries so you can easily keep your number and phone, and travel.

One option when you’re leaving America, and you don’t want to give up your US number, is to port your number to Google Voice. Google Voice is an application that works on computers and mobile phones via its website or Google Hangouts. I currently have my Google Voice account number sync with my Google account so I get emails whenever someone texts me or leaves a voicemail (Google will put the message into text for you and you can download the mp3 to listen to it), and I also get a notification via Hangouts on my phone. This will need to be adjusted in your settings, otherwise you only get email notifications and have to access the website.


Porting your number to Google Voice will cost you a flat fee of $20. It will end your current cellphone plan and take about 24 hours for the number to transfer. I did mine at the airport before departure. Google Voice is a VOIP, voice over internet protocol, which means by using your Google Voice number you are making calls or texts via the internet and can only use it while connected to wifi or mobile data. To transfer your number back out, you need to unlock your number and give it to your new cellphone provider.

To test the service, I recently made a call on my phone after installing Hangouts Dialer which merges with the regular Hangouts app on a new tab. I typed in the number for my credit card company and hit call. It worked perfectly! I have also texted and called my family, but need to add the +1 country code in front of their numbers in my contacts. You can do this via the computer via the website or Hangouts in Gmail too. All free!

It is free to make calls within US & Canada with a US number. You can check the rates here to other countries and from other countries. It ranges from 1 cent to $2 per minute.

To transfer your number to Google Voice:

Don't cancel your cell phone plan before you start the transfer. You'll need your phone to be able to accept calls to complete the porting verification process.

1. On your computer, open Google Voice.
2. Accept the terms and services for Google Voice.
3. Click I want to use my mobile number.
4. Type your mobile phone number, and then click Check for available options.
5. Click Port your number. This will charge a $20 fee.

I did the process on my mobile phone, but you need a browser that will show the desktop version of the site. To be safe, I’d recommend doing it where you know you’ll have computer access: either after coming to Japan or before.

The Google Voice Website