【07/20 Update】This method can be combined with GV dual-number dual-standby to turn 1 into 5; see here. Using the GV dual-number setup, KUKU found that the number automatically moved back from Google Fi to Google Voice is free and permanent. After choosing a new number, there is no need to pay $20 to buy out the old one, and you cannot even delete it. Based on this interface, the returned number seems to be permanent, YMMV.

The GV number returned from Fi: after picking a new number, there is no need to spend another $20 to buy out the old number

Compared with the dual-number setup using regular GV, the method above also lacks the delete-number option.

This is what the regular GV dual-number setup looks like; it includes an extra manual delete-number option

In theory, porting back from Fi into GV also seems to meet the buyout requirement, and it is free. Normally when we cancel Fi, porting back to GV is allowed. It is unclear whether this GV number is permanent, and the author could not find the Terms. But using Fi to change numbers directly and have the old number loop back, without canceling Fi, so that you immediately get a free permanent GV number, is pretty nice.

Using GV number selection and dual-number dual-standby has also become a way to check whether a GV number is permanent. Google’s recent improvements have been pretty impressive. Readers are welcome to share more information!

【06/26 Update】Since Fi can now select a GV number, turning 1 into 3 is completely doable. An extra number can be useful for many things. Here was the author’s experience:

  • Day 1: moved the Fi number back to Voice
  • Waited about 24 hours, received an email saying the transfer succeeded, and the number was already showing in the Voice interface
  • Checked the Fi “Devices” page, and the system had already automatically assigned a new number【automatic; no action required on your part】
  • Tested texting and calling between Fi and GV, and both worked fine.
  • Tested using the new Fi number to pick a Voice number for a secondary account; it worked, and calls/texts on the new GV also worked fine.
  • Hangout + Google Voice really can achieve “dual-SIM dual-standby” as well (Hangouts tied to Fi, Google Voice running separately), as shown below:
Fi cannot be tied to Hangouts at the same time as GV, but you can use the GV app together with it to get a dual-number setup

The whole process, turning 1 into 3, took only 24 hours and did not require swapping the SIM card. Google’s efficiency is impressive. Screenshots below:

After the transfer, the email arrived right on time at 24 hours
It will automatically change to the new number; you need to check in the Fi interface, because your phone may still show the old number

The phone still showed the old number on the author’s device, but outgoing calls used the new number and incoming calls worked fine as well. The guess is that reinserting the SIM card may be needed for the phone display to update.

【Original article published on 06/25 below】

What happened

Google sent an email to Fi users today (KUKU received it, and I assume everyone else did too), saying that one Gmail account can now have both a Fi number and a GV number at the same time, with the two numbers being different. Previously, one Gmail account could only have either Fi or GV, but not both. This is a very nice change.

We recently made an update that enables you to have both a Google Voice number and a Google Fi number at the same time.  If you'd like to have separate numbers on Fi and Voice, which is completely optional, you have two options:

1. Create a new Google Voice number. Simply visit the Google Voice website and follow the instructions.

OR

2. Move your number back to Google Voice and keep your service on Fi. You’ll be assigned a new Fi number. To continue receiving calls on your Fi device, set up call forwarding from Google Voice to your new Fi number.

Number transfer, number selection, and dual-number dual-standby

If you are currently a Google Fi user, you now have these options:

  1. Go pick a new Google Voice number. KUKU tested it and found that you can now use your Google Fi account to select a GV number【this was not possible before】
  2. Transfer your current Google Fi number to GV for free, and then immediately choose a new regular mobile number. The transfer takes 24 hours to complete and requires no other changes. Once the transfer succeeds, you will receive an email notification. Click here for the transfer link
  3. One Hangout account can now be tied to both the Fi and Voice services associated with the same Gmail account for receiving messages and calls, though for texting and calling out you can only use one number at a time【you can think of this as Hangouts becoming dual-SIM dual-standby】

Things to note

  • During the transfer, Google Fi cannot be paused (it will prompt you to unpause Fi). Just unpause it first, then do the transfer.
  • During the transfer process, Fi can still be used normally. After the transfer succeeds, there may be a brief signal interruption, but service comes back quickly.

While Google Fi is paused, you can still proactively make a payment, so many people may be like me: pause Fi, then use AMEX Green or AMEX Platinum to make a payment and try to trigger the Wireless reimbursement. Just remember to unpause first; after the transfer is done, you can consider pausing it again.

You can pick a new number with the area code for your billing region; the remaining digits are assigned randomly

【Additional update】After about a day, the SIM number shown on the phone will also change to the new number.

For other details, please refer to Google’s official instructions:

Maximizing it: turn 1 number into 3 numbers?

How can you get the most out of this change? If you like having more numbers, you can transfer your Fi number back to GV, choose a new Fi number for the physical line, and then use that new Fi number to pick a new GV number for your Gmail secondary account. That way, you can end up holding two GV numbers (one old, one older) plus one new Fi number. In other words, one number becomes three numbers. It was not yet clear whether this would work; the author had just tested it and guessed it might, but everyone is welcome to report DP! Reader dajusha tested it, and using Fi to get a GV number works fine.

After transferring it back, just wait patiently

Related articles

For more articles about Google Fi and Google Voice, see KUKU’s roundup:

Google Voice is also very suitable for completing Wireless Port-in bonuses. See: