If you haven't heard about Google Voice, you may want to check it out. Google Voice is an application that allows you to have a phone number, receive and send texts and phone calls, all completely free. If you don't have a cell phone, you can use the application through your computer to make calls. If you have a smart phone, there is an application that can be used instead of your regular carrier and just recently a major application upgrade for iPhone.

So what does this mean for you? If you have an unlimited data plan, you can make calls and texts that don't affect your normal minute rates.

The major downfall is the inability to port your existing cell phone number to Google Voice. Once porting your old phone number is available, the transition between carrier and Google Voice will be seamless. At this point, you need to tell your friends, relatives, business associates and anyone else that calls your cell phone that you have a new Google number and use that when texting or calling.

Another disadvantage of using Google Voice is that its not on a carrier's network. While this won't matter to you, it will matter to those who call you from within their friends and family or their network. Most carriers have free calling within their network. If you are using Google Voice, when someone calls you, no matter what network they are on, they will incure calling charges because Google is not a carrier. This also goes for texts.

Checkout Google Voice