Gaga for Google Voice

Google Voice

Two years ago I stumbled on a new website called GrandCentral which promised a "phone number for a lifetime" and an on-line interface that let you route calls to that phone number to the various phones (home, work, mobile) that seemed to clutter up your life. So I joined GrandCentral (heck it was free) and was assigned a "phone number for a lifetime" which, due to the venture's newness, was tied to the 415 area code (San Francisco) despite the fact I lived in Nashville.

GrandCentral's idea and concept seemed very cool, but in actuality I used my "lifetime" number twice over an 18 month time frame. My lack of use was partly due to the 415 area code, but more a reaction to GrandCentral's slow approach to make the tool user friendly and useful in daily life.

Then one day, buried in the deal news on the NY Times business page, my early hope for GrandCentral was rekindled when the GrandCentraltechnology was purchased by Google. If anyone can make this work - Google could. And Google delivered and more!

Google pulled GrandCentral back into beta development and earlier this summer re-launched the technology and repackaged it as Google Voice.

Google Voice is Google's answer to voice communications. Using Voice over IP technology, Google Voice allows people to place cheap long distance phone calls through their Internet connection. Taking VoIP technology one step further, Google Voice also allows customer to have a Google Voice phone number and choose which devices rings when the number is dialed, so you could forward the calls to a home phone, work phone or cell phone, or even have the call ring all three numbers.

And Google Voice even was able to provide me my "lifetime" phone number with a Nashville area (615) area code.

The services also features voice mail, text messaging, call recording and can even automatically block calls from known telemarketers. In many ways, it is the next logical step in voice communications. Google has also created applications or mobile interfaces that allow you to utilize your current mobile phone with your Google Voice number and account. I am currently utilizing the Google Voice app on my Palm Pre.

I am sure that AT&T, Sprint and Verizon aren't big fans of Google Voice. Many people have already elected to skip having a home phone now that cell phones are so popular, and with Google Voice, you can even use the basic package and still talk as much as you want because the calls route through the Internet rather than through your cell phone service.

Google Voice also eliminates the need for a text messaging service with its ability to serve the same purpose for free, and it also eliminates the need for other services, such as paying for a call blocking service.

Working with Google Voice does take a little bit of getting used to and the service is still in Beta Testing so new features and changes pop up on a regular basis, but it is definately the must have tool of the year.

GoogleVoice's availiability is currently limited. You can request an invitation at https://services.google.com/fb/forms/googlevoiceinvite/