The technology blogs and podcasts have all been buzzing about Google Voice allowing users to port their numbers into the service. Andy Abramson, of the VOIP Watch blog points out that porting your number in makes more sense in you have an Android Phone. This is because the integration of the Google Voice application into the Android operating system allows for easy calling or texting from your Google Voice number. However, there are a few reasons that one may not want to port there number to Google Voice.

First, your carrier may determine that by porting your number to another service ends your agreement with them. Anyone that is still in a contract may be subject the early termination fee (ETF). With the recent changes in ETFs by carriers this could be several hundred dollars.

Next, you can not to picture messaging with Google Voice. This is probably less of an issue for most people because the trend seems to be to upload pictures to online sharing or social media sites rather than to another phone. Another issue to consider is the lack of support for short codes. These codes that are often used by businesses to register for coupons or contests. Sending a message to a short code from a Google Voice number only returns an error.

Finally, the ability to port your number out could be an issue. The Google Voice forums have comments from some that have been able to accomplish this task. However, the level of success and amount of frustration in doing so has varied. If you port your number to Google you are relying on them to maintain your number on their mostly free service. While we all like paying little or nothing for the services we use there is something to be said for expecting a certain level of service when you are paying a for a service you receive.