UNLIMITED nationwide minutes with Google Voice & SprintPCS, T-Mobile, Verizon, Alltel, etc

Just got off the phone with Sprint PCS’ Account Services dept. (formerly Customer Retention dept.) so I can confirm -- I now have unlimited nationwide minutes with SprintPCS and Google Voice (formerly GrandCentral . Here’s the scoop:

SprintPCS has something called “Pick 3″ where you pick 3 numbers and any phone call made to these three number (or from these three numbers to your Sprint cell) will be considered “Sprint to Sprint”). If you’re on the Sprint2Sprint plan, that means UNLIMITED MINUTES! Sprint doesn’t advertise the “Pick Three” plan anywhere, nor will they add it if you call their regular customer service. Only their Account Services dept. (formerly Customer Retention dept.) can add this to your current plan (with no additional charge). Now, since GoogleVoice lets you receive and place free calls nationwide (US), all you really have to do is ask Sprint to add your Google Voice number as one of the Pick3… Here’s how to get this to work:

1. If you don’t already have Google Voice, get one here (click “Get an Invite”):

http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html

2. Call Sprint PCS (*2 on your cell or 1-888-211-4727 otherwise). Click 0 (or anything else needed to get to the customer service). Don’t waste too much time with them, simply ask them to transfer you to the Account Services dept. (formerly Customer Retention dept.) They will insist on trying to help you -- just tell them you really need to talk to the Account Services dept and that they can’t help you (only the Account Services dept. can add the Pick3 to your plan).

Once you’re on the phone with the Account Services dept. Ask them to add the “Pick Three” to your plan (with no additional charge). Give them your Google Voice number as one of the three numbers.

If you don’t already have the Sprint2Spring (free unlimited minutes to/from any other Sprint number) ask them to add that to your plan as well (they may charge you extra $5 for that if it’s not part of your current plan already).

TIP: While you’re already on the phone with Account Services, tell them you were considering switching to one of the cheaper providers (Metro PCS, Cricket, etc) and ask them what better deal they can give you for cheaper (no need for more minutes since you will be getting free minutes from now on with Google Voice The Account Services dept can give you a much better deal than the Customer Service dept since their job is to retain important customer. You can even tell them you want this better deal to start immediately without renewing your contract for another year or two.

3. For your incoming calls to also be considered free unlimited minutes, you must set your Caller ID from within the Google Voice web interface to “Display as Google Voice number.” This is because most carriers determine the number calling based upon caller id.

NOTE to NON-Sprint users: this should work with any of the other top numbers plan like Sprint’s Pick 3:

• Verizon Wireless “Friends and Family”
• T-Mobile’s My Faves
• Alltel “U” & My Circle

(does AT&T have anything like top numbers? I’m not sure)

THAT’S IT!

To place any call with unlimited minutes nationwide (US) call your Google Voice number, enter your pin# / #2 / the number you want to call. Some phones will allow you to automate this process…