How to back up your Google Voice data
Don't panic! Nothing has been confirmed about Google Voice being shut down for good -- but that doesn't mean you should skip an opportunity to back up your data.
Moving files from your physical drives to cloud storage is what usually comes to mind when you think about data backup. However, if you've created your data in the cloud, it's not a bad idea to back it up on physical storage.
Google Takeout is a great tool that lets you export data from services like Gmail, YouTube, and even Google Voice. Although nothing has been confirmed about the integration of Google Voice into the Hangouts application, now is a great time to make sure you won't lose any important texts or voice mails.
Step 1: Head to the Google Takeout landing page.
Step 2: Click the Create an archive button. Uncheck the box next to Select all, and then put a check mark next to Voice in the first category labeled Home and Office.
Step 3: Click the Create Archive button at the top, and then wait for it to be compiled.
In case you leave the page, Google will send you an email confirming that the If you don't want to wait, you can leave the page, since Google will email you when the download is ready.
Once finished, click the Download button to save your archive. The file will be available for a week on Google's servers if you don't want to grab it right now.
If you're only interested in grabbing a couple of your voice mails, you can do so on an individual basis with these two steps:
Step 1: Head to the Web interface for Google Voice and then choose Voicemails from the menu on the left-hand side. Or click this link.
Step 2: Find a voice mail you want to back up, then click the more menu under it and choose Download.
With Google Voice's future unknown, you may be tempted to port your number to a wireless carrier, so you don't have to give out a new number to everyone. However, before you make a decision, it might be best to wait for Google to make an announcement about the future of the service. If the integration is going to happen, it might be implemented in a way that you find useful. And if not, then it's probably safe to start looking for alternatives.