Google voice

Google Voice doesn't change your # but it gives you another # that you can give out instead of your original #. If people call your original verizon # then it will ring your phone. The transcription of the voicemail's is horrible and often only gets a few words right out of every voicemail.

I use Google Voice for work so I can give my Google Voice to the students I work with so that they can text me (and I have record of it forever to protect myself), but also with Google Voice you can shut off the ability to receive calls or texts. So if I'm on vacation I can make it so I don't receive phone calls or texts from the students unless I want to turn it on and check them. I only give my actual cell phone # to friends and family and anyone else gets the google voice # so I can screen calls if I need to.

With Google Voice it e-mails you a link to listen to your voicemails from the internet. So if you're out of the country you can still check your voicemails...good stuff!

I used it a lot for everything to take advantage of the free texting, but then after awhile I missed the ability to send pics and videos to friends and family so I now have unlimited texting through Verizon so I can send media.

It's good stuff..and the best it is free...you just have to figure out how to use it best for you.