Google just launched their updated Voice service that offers some very compelling features. The service is a bit tough to understand because it is new and it comes in a few flavors. For the most part Google Voice is a portal that allows you to manage your incoming and outgoing communications. Here is brief list of features:
- Choose one phone number for free (additional numbers are $10 each) from a huge list. The number can be local or remote and you can search for easy patterns or even vanity numbers.
- Have incoming calls ring multiple phones at once. Someone calls your Google Voice number and it can ring your cell phone and your home phone.
- Require callers not found in your Gmail contacts list to announce themselves. This plays a message to you that allows you to answer the call or send them to voicemail.
- Have different outgoing messages for different people, route calls differently for different people.
- Do Not Disturb option sends all calls directly to voicemail. We have a separate Google Voice account just for spam calls (the inevitable solicitation calls you get from companies that require your home telephone number). This has allowed us to disconnect our landline and keep our cellphones free from unwanted calls.
- Transcribes your voicemail messages! Your voicemails appear as a Gmail message with the text of the call. You can still listen to the message but the text makes it so much easier to manage voicemails.
- Forward voicemails or text messages to your phone and/or Gmail account.
Google Voice is available in a number of versions:
1) Gmail - A “Call Phone” button appears in your contacts list. This now allows you to place calls from your computer.
2) Google Voice Page - Manages your settings, Contacts, Inbox and allows you to send text messages and place calls. Placing calls is not quite like the Gmail feature that connects directly from your computer headset. In the Google Voice page the call will connect to a phone you have on record or your headset if you have a Google Chat client. I expect this limitation to be overcome soon and work more like Gmail.
3) iPhone App - Actually not an app since Apple rejected it because it allows you to send text messages from your cellphone for FREE! It is actually a HTML5 webpage that works on your iPhone. Integration is a bit limited but you can send text messages and place calls. Making a call is a little strange since your phone acutally calls Google then connects you to the person you wanted. This is all automatic though and shows the person on the other end your Google number instead of your cellphone number (unless you change the settings).
4) Android App - This version is much better integrated into the phone since Android phones are already integrated with your Gmail account. Right now, this is the best way to go with Google Voice.
Right now the primary benefits of the Google Voice app are:
- Free voicemail and phone portal system.
- Very cheap international calls
- FREE text messages from and to your computer and cellphone
The only thing that Google Voice is currently lacking is the ability to make calls via the Internet from mobile devices. This currently works from Gmail, but adding it their mobile apps would be an amazing solution. Imagine having a cellphone with unlimited voice, data and texts that costs only what an unlimited 3G/4G data plans runs (around $40/month). Or a more limited but FREE cellphone that works only in Wifi hot spots.











Entries (RSS)