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The much-anticipated Google Voice service is now available to more people. Yesterday, Google began sending out invites to those who have been requesting access to the free service. In May, Google reportedly reserved 1 million phone numbers through Level 3 Communications, which caused many people to speculate that a public launch was imminent. While the announcement does not signify a completely open, public launch, it does allow more users to enjoy the service.
Google Voice, formerly known as Grand Central, lets users to unify all their phone numbers under one single number. All calls can be routed through that single number and can simultaneously ring home, work, or mobile phones. Voice also contains advanced voicemail features that include message transcripts. You can sign up for your invite here.
In the short amount of time since Google’s announcement, Google Voice has already received criticism. Some oppose the new number that is created since outbound calls may not be recognized by friends and colleagues. Privacy concerns have also been raised since Google has the ability to access all voice conversations and voicemail. For Gmail users however, this is nothing new since Google can already access similar information.
What about you? Do these concerns worry you? Or do the concerns seem small when you calculate the convenience of Google Voice into the equation?
(4 votes, average: 4.25 out of 5)
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one drawback is texting requires a data connection unless you’ve texted them before and been texted back and saved their 406 number.
using ipkall, gizmo5, and google voice DOES remove the need for another phone service. Now all we need is wifi or wimax everywhere and we can call anywhere on the us for free!
Nice features.
I’m not as enthusiastic about getting it as I would otherwise be because of the fact that Google already has established a record of coorperating with the government when they (the govt.) wants to intrude into our privacy. Everybody rushing to get Google voice just makes it that much easier for the government to know where to go to snoop around and get the most information possible about what people are doing. Our private lives are non on their damn business. Of course, I know that NSA can listen to whatever they want to anyway but it’s just the principle of the matter….to me.
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It’s an excellent service which works well. However, surprisingly Google Voice does not remove a need for you having service with your local phone company of cell service. Even though you can receive and initiate calls via your computer the call must be actually handled by your telephone and can not be done only using your PC and its microphone thus it requres the use of a telephone. That is a big negative for people wanting to cancel their land-line phones or simply using them less. .
I have it. I love it! I’ve been having it since it was grandcentral. I would suggest that everyone try it when it does become available because of the really neat features, if for nothing else. I particularly like the feature that allows you to block someone if you no longer want to talk to them. On their end, they will hear a recording that says the number they have called is out of service. The text feature is really cool too. No one ever has to know that this is a virtual number b/c u can send/receive texts.
Be patient–it’s coming guys!
right, like we have bo
AT&T doesn’t have my email, website analytics, sales and conversion rates, office documents, searching behavior, sites visited/etc).
Sure I trust Google ;-D
Are they hack-prrof forevermore?
So people are paranoid because Google would have access to all the personal information and data that is sent via their phone… as opposed to say AT&T or Verizon who currently have that information now? People are funny like that…
Hey does anybody have an invite for me? Thanks.
The service may be welcome, but im not sure whether its not a repeat of the skype services. beside it seems to be available for US citizens only, so it might take a while before it catches up over time.
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SEOsean
I will sell you my invite for $1,000
cash only pls…
Ya right, like we have to pay u. :))
Too bad it’s not available to everyone yet. I’d like to play around with it and see if it’s something that would benefit me.