Google Voice

[monkey0506]

While we're all up in arms over Google Wave, I thought I'd open up discussion for Google Voice (seeing as I didn't find anything about it when I did a search here).

"What is Google Voice," you ask? Well essentially when you sign up you give Google your phone numbers. Yes, I hear you now all screaming conspiracy. What Google does is they in turn assign you a new phone number. You can set this new number to route to all of your phones, specific lines, even filter and route specific callers. There's automatic call screening on this Google number so if it's a number you don't recognize you can find out who's calling before taking the call.

You can also send/receive SMS text messages using this number, get a textual transcript of your voicemail messages, conference calls together, etc. all for free.

You have to have the existing phone line(s) and it won't change the services you have available to you directly. For example if you don't have long distance calling on your home phone, this won't give it to you. However, for example, the call conferencing is handled by Google's servers and won't register as a conference call with your mobile carrier.

Two features I'm particularly excited about are "call switching" and "GOOG-411". Call switching gives you the ability, at the touch of a button, to transfer an active call from one of your phone lines to another. Say for example you answer a call on your cell phone but then realize you're burning up minutes and want to take it on the home line. At the touch of a button your house phone will ring, you can answer it, and the call will be transferred over! GOOG-411 as the name implies is directory assistance. That's completely free. They'll even connect the call at no charge.

I hear all you Google-haters now, but I'm not bothered. I already requested an invite. My old roommate already got his number. We tried out the VM-to-text feature. I, being a prick, left the voicemail message "Dick in your mouth." Which roughly translates into text form (according to Google anyway) as, "please, give me a rough."

P.S. Apple/AT&T has/have implemented measures to prevent Google Voice from being used on an iPhone.

[Akatosh]

Oh, hey. Just when you thought they couldn't really try to get their hands at even more avenues of communication. I mean... seriously, it's getting ridiculous. 

I'll go with "no, thanks" as usually. But my opinion on that corporation ("like Dollar Bill Gate'$ Mikkkro$haft") should be well-known already. 

[ThreeOhFour]

The Beast has changed. It can hear us now. Choose your words wisely 

[discordance]

It won't be long.