An In Depth Look at Google Voice

Category: Mobile
Posted: August 11, 2009 02:22PM
Author: CheeseMan42

Google Voice is a new service offered by the search giant that is packed with useful features. Google Voice originates from GrandCentral, a company purchased by Google in 2007. Google has updated the service, and it was relaunched in March of this year. The concept behind Google Voice is that the user will get a new phone number when signing up. Through the magic of Google Voice, the calls from this number can be forwarded to any phone you choose. Calls can even be forwarded dependent on who is calling. In addition to the forwarding possibilities offered, the service also allows options for screening calls. This could prove extremely useful for dealing with people you don't know calling your phone. Users will also have several options when it comes to voice mail. Not only can you take a call while someone is leaving you a message, but Google Voice will transfer that message to text and send it to you. The feature that I find most useful, and the one that likely got the Voice app banned from the iPhone, is the ability to send free SMS messages. I have never had a text plan so this is a great service for me. The service is currently free to anyone lucky enough to get an invite. I got mine last night and I'm already extremely happy with the service.

I got my invite to Google Voice some time between July 17th and July 26th (I know this only because I got it while on vacation). Right away I was hooked. I've downloaded the application for my BlackBerry and it is amazing. It uses data so no standard text messaging rates apply here! From my understanding, if you have a Jail Bricked IPhone, you can still use the Google Voice app. I know there is an app for the Palm Pre which I played with yesterday. I was considering forwarding all my calls to my current mobile phone to my google voice, which in turn forwards back to my mobile phone so I can take advantage of all of the awesome features of google voice.