Make Free Calls From GMail Via Google Voice
Google has begun rolling out Internet phone service built into the interface of its Gmail service letting you make free video and voice calls within the US and Canada for the rest of this year. Call prices for other countries start at $0.02 per minute.
More information about this can be found on the Google blog post:
We’re rolling out this feature to U.S. based Gmail users over the next few days, so you’ll be ready to get started once “Call Phones” shows up in your chat list (you will need to install the voice and video plug-in if you haven’t already). If you’re using Google Apps for your school or business, then you won’t see it quite yet. We’re working on making this available more broadly – so stay tuned!
Google Voice Is Now Open To All In US
No more user invitation, Google Voice is now open to all in the US.
Google Voice lets you have one number for all devices, get transcripts of your voicemails, archive and search your SMS messages, make international calls and access GOOG-411 directory assistance. This is in direct competition with eBay’s Skype and major long-distance carriers like AT&T. Google Voice is an improved version of Grand Central which they have purchased and the service is now only available to current customers as a preview.
Find out more about the features here.
Google Voice Returns To iPhone
Apple has previously blocked the Google Voice app from the App Store. Google Voice Mobile 2.0 is coming back to the iPhone via Safari browser thanks to VoiceCentral. Check out the video to see the features.
The app is still in the private beta stage of development, VoiceCentral has yet to announce a launch time-frame or pricing.
Google Voice Guilty Of Traffic Pumping?
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is investigating Google Voice for blocking telephone calls from users that use Google Voice to call telephone numbers in certain rural areas.
From Google Blog: The reason we restrict calls to certain local phone carriers’ numbers is simple. Not only do they charge exorbitant termination rates for calls, but they also partner with adult sex chat lines and “free” conference calling centers to drive high volumes of traffic. This practice has been called “access stimulation” or “traffic pumping” (clearly by someone with a sense of humor). Google Voice is a free application and we want to keep it that way for all our users — which we could not afford to do if we paid these ludicrously high charges.
Google: Apple Rejected Google Voice App
Google reveals that Apple has flatly rejected the Google Voice app for iPhone. Apple has previously said that they are still pondering on the app due to the affect it has on AT&T call features and voice mail. Google now has come out to say that is not true and has requested that the commission to publish the letter in full. Read it here (PDF).
This is what really happened according to Google: Apple representatives informed Google that the Google Voice application was rejected because Apple believed the application duplicated the core dialer functionality of the iPhone.
Apple representative replies with: “We do not agree with all of the statements made by Google in their FCC letter. Apple has not rejected the Google Voice application and we continue to discuss it with Google.”
Why Did Apple Reject Google Voice For iPhone?
AT&T exclusive carrier for the iPhone in the US has already said they play no role in rejecting Google Voice iPhone app. Apple gave two reasons why they did not let Google Voice go through: Google Voice copies user contacts into Google’s server and Google Voice duplicated the functions of the iPhone.
Due to the contract with AT&T, Apple comfirms that they have to block VoIP or Internet telephony on the iPhone.
Android And Blackberry Gets Google Voice
Android and BlackBerry phones will get the Google Voice app on the device. Google is working on an iPhone app for Google Voice but it will depend on Apple to let it through into the App Store.
Google Voice features users access to voicemail; play back voicemail messages; read SMS messages sent to their Google Voice number even for phones without SMS-enabled; access call history and transcribes voicemails and reads numbers from the smartphone’s phonebook.
Google Voice App For iPhone
Google Voice is an application that helps you better manage your voice communications. The app comes with a dialer and it will let you transcripts your voicemail and archive and search all of the SMS text messages you send and receive. You can also use the service to make low-priced international calls and easily access Goog-411 directory assistance.
Google Voice Will Rival Skype
Google Voice lets you have one number for all devices, get transcripts of your voicemails, archive and search your SMS messages, make international calls and access GOOG-411 directory assistance. This is in direct competition with eBay’s Skype and major long-distance carriers like AT&T. Google Voice is an improved version of Grand Central which they have purchased and the service is now only available to current customers as a preview.
From Google Blog, Google Voice will be available initially to existing users of GrandCentral, a service we acquired in July of 2007.
Find out more about the features here.
