As Google Voice becomes more popular and more and more people have access to this platform, I’m going to take some time to explain how Google Voice interacts with 911 services and other N11 numbers. If you’re using Google Voice (GV) on your Android device or iPhone, you have the option of making GV “take over” and use GV to make calls. For example, on my G1 if I was to call my mom, my GV number would show up on her caller ID instead of my real number. This is because GV is a phone forwarding service. This is why you can register multiple numbers to your GV number.
Naturally, when telephony services come to mind, 911 and E911 (Enhanced 911) top the list. Well, the folks at Google have thought about this and from research, calls made to 911 or other N11 services (411, 511,611, etc) bypass GV and use your actual phone number. This way you can be connected to the nearest 911 call center. I hope this clears up any questions you might have regarding GV and 911.
