Google Voice opens to public

[dobbles]

Google Voice opened to the public Tuesday. Up to now, you had to have an invitation from a current user before you could sign on to use the innovative phone add-on service. Now, anyone in the U.S. can sign up.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/web/06/...ed/index.html?

[dobbles]

Now I realize that the most important part of that quote is "U.S." but does anyone on here have experience with Google Voice? I am wanting to try it and just wanted to get any feedback you guys might have.

[MolsonInBothHands]

I have a telus android phone, and just recently activated google voice using these instructions: http://www.wifitalk.ca/iphone/howto-...ice-in-canada/

It will work if you have a 403 area code.

[Azure]

I'd rather just wait and do it the right way.

I'm sure its not that far off anyways.

[FanIn80]

Having not read much on it, is this just another VOiP service? If so, what makes it better or worse than Skype?

[Azure]

Maybe you should read into it some more then.

Kinda tough to explain.

They even have videos on their site.

[FanIn80]

...provides you with a single phone number that directs calls to your mobile, home or work phone, depending on the rules you set. Beyond that, it includes a basketful of features including transcribed voicemail sent as e-mail or text message, free conference calling, free outbound domestic calls and call-screening. The service is free, except for international calls, which cost a fraction of what the phone company charges per minute.

Sounds like VOiP to me. I don't have much interest in VOiP services. I never have. So chances are I'm not going to read much about it.

It's just a simple question man. Why Google over Skype (or vice versa)?

[Azure]

Does Skype make your cell phone ring when your Skype number is dialed?

[FanIn80]

I don't know... I have the Skype app installed on my phone, but I don't have a Skype number to test it with. I don't see why it wouldn't.

Why so argumentative? I'm just asking questions anyone else would ask about something they've just heard about for the first time.

[photon]

Google basically is one phone number that will never change that you can have ring on your cell, home, and work # all at the same time or on various places based on rules (time of day).. so like a front end # for all your other #'s, consolidated voicemail, voicemail to text, custom voice messages for different people, etc

Appealing except that I have to get a new #.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by photon

Google basically is one phone number that will never change that you can have ring on your cell, home, and work # all at the same time or on various places based on rules (time of day).. so like a front end # for all your other #'s, consolidated voicemail, voicemail to text, custom voice messages for different people, etc

Appealing except that I have to get a new #.

Ahhh... now that's interesting. So, in a real-world example... I could give this number out to people and then control whether or not I want their calls to go to my cell or my home number, without giving out either of those numbers?

That's interesting, actually. Also, the ability to block those calls is pretty nice too.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Ahhh... now that's interesting. So, in a real-world example... I could give this number out to people and then control whether or not I want their calls to go to my cell or my home number?

That's interesting, actually. Also, the ability to block those calls is pretty nice too.

Pretty much.

And you can pick the times during the day when certain phones should ring.

Only problem is like Photon said, having to get a new number.

But its still worth it.

And I'm not being argumentative. Geez.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Azure

Pretty much.

And you can pick the times during the day when certain phones should ring.

Only problem is like Photon said, having to get a new number.

But its still worth it.

And I'm not being argumentative. Geez.

It does actually seem pretty awesome. And the new number thing isn't that big of a deal, since I would only give it out to people I'm not sure about, or for registering on sites where I don't want them selling my number or calling me, etc.

I'm going to keep an eye on this one, I think.

(And no worries about the other stuff. It's probably just me being me again. )

[dobbles]

yeah, it looks like you guys did cover some of the functions that set it apart from just voip. the reason i am interested is i am about to move cross country and will be needing a new local number. so this would be a great opportunity to utilize the service even if it mostly just to push calls to our cell phones or other places. so for my situation it seems logical so i wasn't sure if anyone had experience with it.

[BlackEleven]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Sounds like VOiP to me. I don't have much interest in VOiP services. I never have. So chances are I'm not going to read much about it.

It's just a simple question man. Why Google over Skype (or vice versa)?

It's not an Apple product, there's no lower-case i ... VoIP.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by BlackEleven

It's not an Apple product, there's no lower-case i ... VoIP.

Ha, nice. I thought that looked odd...