The critical question here is "Is a call-forwarding service the same as a telephone provider?" Google has no cell phone towers or phone lines. When you call so

The critical question here is "Is a call-forwarding service the same as a telephone provider?" Google has no cell phone towers or phone lines. When you call someone with Google Voice this happens: 1. Google calls the number you're calling with the GV number they've assigned to you. 2. Google calls your actual phone number. 3. Google connects the two calls so you're talking to the person you wanted to call via your actual phone provider's network. 4. Your actual phone provider charges you money. Whereas when you call with a normal phone provider: 1. You dial the number. 2. Your phone provider connects you to the person over their network. 3. Your phone provider charges you money. The only significant difference I see between the two is that with Google Voice, you show up differently on the caller ID of the person you call.