[update, possible now after this article published, see edit3 below]

have an awesome google voice number? I do. But I’m not to keen on having google be a silent third party [call bridging] on all my calls. 😦 Yes, that would be call bridging, the technology google uses to connect two OTHER parties to a phone call. A company who profits from context “would never ever” transcribe all bridged calls to better target market you.. nooo. Would you like to buy a phone-bridge?
http://googlevoiceblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/port-your-existing-mobile-number-to.html
The above ‘new’ article covers porting IN a number to google for a mere $20 vs the ZERO cost of most other providers but ‘conveniently’ ignores porting OUT a google voice number to another provider.. one who won’t monitor all your calls to datamine your life — as with EVERY google “free” service
http://google.com/search?client=ubuntu&channel=fs&q=”port+out”+google+voice+number&ie=utf-8
Best of luck with that. Some have claimed success. 419 anyone? I now only use google voice for 419 scambaiting games
revisionist history: once upon a time there was a google help article on porting-out. It has since become existentially challenged. Dig around archive.org if you please. OT: It is there you will also find my ownership/creation of the vast majority of uber popular stumbleupon groups.
of the many ITSP/voip providers I use here are a few you-people might like to replace google voice for personal/business use:
voip.ms : enjoy a bit of Engrish with a lower cost [less awesome route] service
les : lean, mean [kind], soooper reliable. strongly resistant to offering other-than 5060 ports (a must have for those suffering fios cpe or gear raped by other cretinous fops)
vitelity : kind to pbx in a flash community
viatalk : self described as targeting the “average” user. power users and the greater powers will be displeased with responses to feature/functionality suggestions. The only ITSP in this subset. Soon to sport an android application — already feature an iphone applicaiton. really really need to offer vpn connections like ooma.
voicepulse : _NO_ they suffer from feature-coma and suggestion blackholing. They did finally listen to someone’s adamant suggestion to integrate youmail.
future nine: hands on admin, not so web savvy, if only VZW had this kind of customer service
combine les/voipms/vitelity with a (hosted) PBX for best results. Tinker with IVR tarpitting.. voicexml is fun. Be sure to patronize Aaron’s SipSorcery.
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google not evil, you say? Violating federal law is good??
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edit1: it is more probable if porting-to an industry heavy hitter. names withheld to protect the overworked.
edit2: expanded GoogleVoice refugee options. Ask for the “googlevoice refugee discount”
edit3: WIN! google has been shamed/pressured into posting a help article describing how to “unlock”, pay, and port OUT a google voice number. mwahahaha!

This help article was EXISTENTIALLY CHALLENGED prior to my blog post:
http://www.google.com/support/voice/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1316844
Be sure to select a payment method that does NOT volunteer identification information to the identity sucking, behavioral modeling, advertising entity that is hypocritically-evil google:
https://www.google.com/voice/unlock
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