Google Voice

[Kaido]

Update: Google says it will be ready in a matter of weeks for sign-up :thumbsup:

Update 2: Voice invitation request page

Still a somewhat private beta, but it's starting to look real good:

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="https://www.google.com/voice/about"><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="https://www.google.com/voice/about">https://www.google.com/voice/about</a></a>

Article at PC Mag:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2342917,00.asp

Big features:
-Single number, single voicemail (all phones/voicemails routed to/from this number)
-Free calls out in the U.S.
-Block unwanted calls
-Call switch (switch to a different phone in the middle of a call)

 

[James Bond]

I still am hazy on how this whole thing works. Do you use this on your cell phone, or plug an analog phone into a gateway and use VoIP?

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: James Bond
I still am hazy on how this whole thing works. Do you use this on your cell phone, or plug an analog phone into a gateway and use VoIP?

Everything. Think of it as Skype with glue for all your phones - business, cell, house, etc.

 

[Drakkon]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: James Bond
I still am hazy on how this whole thing works. Do you use this on your cell phone, or plug an analog phone into a gateway and use VoIP?

Everything. Think of it as Skype with glue for all your phones - business, cell, house, etc.

but its not a program you download and talk into - You have to have a phone number already to use it. Its more like a call forwarding service where they give you 1 number and that number integrates all your phone lines and offers voicemail, call blocking, and a few other features as well by directing it where your rule set tells it to go. I love my grandcentral number

 

[Fritzo]

I tried the beta. Too busy---there's such a thing as too many features. I'm not sure most people would use a quarter of the things this service does. But that's Google for you.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Drakkon

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: James Bond
I still am hazy on how this whole thing works. Do you use this on your cell phone, or plug an analog phone into a gateway and use VoIP?

Everything. Think of it as Skype with glue for all your phones - business, cell, house, etc.

but its not a program you download and talk into - You have to have a phone number already to use it. Its more like a call forwarding service that integrates all your phone lines and offers voicemail, call blocking, and a few other features as well. I love my grandcentral number

Gah, no fair!

Right, it's more of a centralized phone service. :heart: Google

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
I tried the beta. Too busy---there's such a thing as too many features. I'm not sure most people would use a quarter of the things this service does. But that's Google for you.

They switched the new GUI to be more Gmail-like, you should give Voice a try now.

 

[ViviTheMage]

If they made an app that would VOIP (via wifi) on my iphone i'd be happy, otherwise I don't care!

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: Drakkon

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: James Bond
I still am hazy on how this whole thing works. Do you use this on your cell phone, or plug an analog phone into a gateway and use VoIP?

Everything. Think of it as Skype with glue for all your phones - business, cell, house, etc.

but its not a program you download and talk into - You have to have a phone number already to use it. Its more like a call forwarding service that integrates all your phone lines and offers voicemail, call blocking, and a few other features as well. I love my grandcentral number

Plus, wouldn't you have the same # for life then? So if your cell phone changes or whatever you just update it on the back end?

What exactly do grand central #'s look like? Are they area code specific?

 

[pstylesss]

It would be nice if I could port my current number to it. Using my grand central number means giving everyone a new number.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: ZeroIQ
It would be nice if I could port my current number to it. Using my grand central number means giving everyone a new number.

?

Just setup call fowarding..

 

[oznerol]

When you sign up you enter your location, then it gives you a list of numbers you can choose from within that area code. You can try to be cool and find a number that spells out something or whatever - but otherwise it's just a regular phone number.

I have an account, and a number, but I don't use it. I found that a lot of the numbers they give out are from discontinued phones. I know on my number, I got bombarded with solicitors, collection agencies, and other shady characters. Plus a ton of general hang ups. I used to get an email every time I got one of these, so I just turned off all notifications and forgot all about it.

It works well to link all your phones. You can set it to only ring a particular phone if it's a particular person, or all phones if it's someone else. It's good if you have a home, cell, and work phone with different numbers. If you don't, then it's not incredibly useful.

I'm not sure how calling out works, though. If I recall, you had to do it through the website - and then your phone would ring and it would be dialing the number you wanted. Not particularly convenient.

No SMS is a drag, too. I was hoping it would allow people to send me a text to my Grand Central number and then have it emailed to me instead. But no dice on that yet.

 

[effowe]

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
If they made an app that would VOIP (via wifi) on my iphone i'd be happy, otherwise I don't care!

Been done already

 

[Cal166]

Been using it for the past year or so, works great for a call back number. I really like it

 

[LS21]

if they'd give me 666-666-6666 id totally be all over it

 

[nonameo]

shit.... I tried a long time ago to get into grandcentral, but it never gave me an invite. now I'm just because I can't get in at all. I'm sure it will be closed like this for a long time to come...

 

[Crono]

I don't even want to hear about this until they reopen invite system. I'm on notification list at Grand Central.

 

[hoihtah]

in terms of technology, it's going to change the phone industry.
i use gc with tmobile's fav5. unlimited incoming, unlimited outgoing.
for my g1 and iphone, it even has app to dial out.

it'll be a big deal once the google voice opens up to everyone.

 

[Perknose]

I got a Grand Central # 3 years ago -- never much used it -- time to see if I'm still in!

 

[SunnyD]

I <3 my GC number. My wife isn't fond of the service though. Sounds like it will just get better now.

 

[alchemize]

I was in at one point, now that I really want to use it for forwarding, I can't remember what email I had it registered under

 

[SunnyD]

Your account is not yet ready to be upgraded. Please check back shortly.

 

[Double Trouble]

I have a grand central account, but I haven't really made much use of it yet. I understand how it does the routing/forwarding/voicemail and all that good stuff, but how would you use the service to actually call out? Are we talking headphone/mic here, or can you do like skype where you can buy a usb adapter and use a regular phone to call out with grandcentral/google voice?

 

[trmiv]

I signed up for GrandCentral a long time ago. I've never used it. Seems like it could be useful for some people though.

 

[sygyzy]

The glaring problem with this is do you really want to give everyone a new number? I have a GC number and have only used it a few times. Imagine you give someone your new number, then later they see you and ask for it again and you give them your cell (main) number. Then you have to explain to them, without sounding like a jackass, that you actually gave them your Google number, you see, which is this beta software and uh...