Thursday, June 25, 2009

Google Voice

From Google.com:
See how Google Voice works with your phones
One number for all your calls and SMS
Call screening - Announce and screen callers
Listen in - Listen before taking a call
Block calls - Keep unwanted callers at bay
SMS - Send, receive, and store SMS
Place calls - Call US numbers for free
Taking calls - Answer on any of your phones
Phone routing - Phones ring based on who calls
Forwarding phones - Add phones and decide which ring

Voicemail as easy as email, with transcripts
Voicemail transcripts - Read what your voicemail says
Listen to voicemail - Check online or from your phone
Notifications - Receive voicemails via email or SMS
Personalize greeting - Vary greetings by caller
Share voicemail - Forward or download voicemails

More cool things you can do with Google Voice
Conference calling - Join people into a single call
Call record - Record calls and store them online
Call switch - Switch phones during a call
Mobile site - View your inbox from your mobile
GOOG-411 - Check directory assistance
Manage groups - Set preferences by group



Google has reserved about one million numbers with Level 3 Communications, who've been supplying numbers to Google ever since Google Voice's inception. Launched back in March, Google Voice is a free service available only for GrandCentral users. Google Voice will use technology for "converting" voicemail into text mail which can be read or heard later.

Through this service, Google aims to make voice communication including telephony, more easily manageable by the users. Under this service a single Google Voice number would be used for routing home, office and other numbers - available only in U.S.

Apart from that, this service includes number of other options like calling U.S. based numbers for free, conference calling, switching between phones during a call, read the voice mail transcripts and several other features. Read more about the respective features here.

Google Voice was speculated to go public last weekend. However, the company is assumed to test the service properly with closed user group before making it public. It won't be surprising if Google gives first preference to Android-based phone owners for the Google Voice service or uses a specific sign-up system.

Those worried about revealing single number to unwanted parties can conceal the details while calling. Whenever the Google Voice service goes live, it's going to mad rush as well as confusions about number portability - using carrier provided cellphone number as Google Voice number. But this will increase the cost of number distribution by users amongst family, friends, clientele and official contacts.

Can this be treated as one step closer to its public launch? We'll have to wait for the search engine giant to officially roll out this service for general public. Interested users can leave their email address on the Google Voice Invite page to be notified for Google Voice sign up whenever it opens for public.

More at Techtree.com

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