Google is on fire.
The giant search engine is no longer just a fountain of quick, easily-accessed information; it has transformed itself into an email hot spot, an internet document storage bin, health and diet tracker, location tool, and now it is a phone. The product Google has been pushing recently is a feature that anyone with a gmail account can use: Google Voice.
Google Voice was initially started 2 years ago to centralize and organize the sometimes confusing world of cellphone data and calling. It's only just hit mainstream because, up until a few months ago, you needed a special invitation to be able to access the site. Google has expanded their program so now everyone can have a Voice account
While it is inherently cool to have people call your computer and speak to you as they would on a phone, if you are one of the many people today who has an operational cellphone, why would you bother with Google Voice? That's the beauty of Google Voice: it's not a phone service, it just uses your computer as an interface for your phone, allowing you to screen calls, "listen in" on voice-mail as it's being made, and view your voice-mail box as you would your email. And the number is tied to your account, so my understanding is that you can log in to any computer and still have access to your phone account. If you ever lose your phone, you could use your Google Voice account to call it, or to monitor calls made by a minor (or the person who might have taken your phone).
Google Voice is able to recognize that you may have multiple phones at your disposal, and it will sync the voice-mailboxes into one spot, transcribed in an email or a text message, should you so choose. Based on the identity of the caller, or the time of day that a call is made, Google Voice also acts as a call blocker, preventing telemarketers from calling at 3 in the morning (it's happened to me, and it wasn't pleasant). Google Voice will also ring all of those phones at the same time, so if you're really waiting for that call, it's the best way to ensure you don't miss it.
There are other cool features that Google Voice has, such as conference calling and the ability to record a call. Google Voice warns that there are Federal and state laws that may prevent you from legally recording a call without consent from both parties, but the fact that you can is extraordinarily empowering. As I mentioned before, the voice-mails will also be transcribed into your Google account, and if you ever need to search for a small piece of information, it's never more than a search bar away.You'll also be able to send those transcribed messages to any other email account you want.
Although Google Voice is only available at this time in the United States, it doesn't prevent international calls from being made. Google Voice works with any mobile carrier, and for the year of 2011 the service will be free, including texts. If you ever switch your phone, carrier, or location, the Google number you chose will remain the same because "it's tied to you."
The giant search engine is no longer just a fountain of quick, easily-accessed information; it has transformed itself into an email hot spot, an internet document storage bin, health and diet tracker, location tool, and now it is a phone. The product Google has been pushing recently is a feature that anyone with a gmail account can use: Google Voice.
Google Voice was initially started 2 years ago to centralize and organize the sometimes confusing world of cellphone data and calling. It's only just hit mainstream because, up until a few months ago, you needed a special invitation to be able to access the site. Google has expanded their program so now everyone can have a Voice account
While it is inherently cool to have people call your computer and speak to you as they would on a phone, if you are one of the many people today who has an operational cellphone, why would you bother with Google Voice? That's the beauty of Google Voice: it's not a phone service, it just uses your computer as an interface for your phone, allowing you to screen calls, "listen in" on voice-mail as it's being made, and view your voice-mail box as you would your email. And the number is tied to your account, so my understanding is that you can log in to any computer and still have access to your phone account. If you ever lose your phone, you could use your Google Voice account to call it, or to monitor calls made by a minor (or the person who might have taken your phone).
Google Voice is able to recognize that you may have multiple phones at your disposal, and it will sync the voice-mailboxes into one spot, transcribed in an email or a text message, should you so choose. Based on the identity of the caller, or the time of day that a call is made, Google Voice also acts as a call blocker, preventing telemarketers from calling at 3 in the morning (it's happened to me, and it wasn't pleasant). Google Voice will also ring all of those phones at the same time, so if you're really waiting for that call, it's the best way to ensure you don't miss it.
There are other cool features that Google Voice has, such as conference calling and the ability to record a call. Google Voice warns that there are Federal and state laws that may prevent you from legally recording a call without consent from both parties, but the fact that you can is extraordinarily empowering. As I mentioned before, the voice-mails will also be transcribed into your Google account, and if you ever need to search for a small piece of information, it's never more than a search bar away.You'll also be able to send those transcribed messages to any other email account you want.
Although Google Voice is only available at this time in the United States, it doesn't prevent international calls from being made. Google Voice works with any mobile carrier, and for the year of 2011 the service will be free, including texts. If you ever switch your phone, carrier, or location, the Google number you chose will remain the same because "it's tied to you."