Google Voice • imagine the possibilities...

bylo · **Google Voice • imagine the possibilities... -** 12-03-2009, 18:25

Google Voice

Official Google Blog: Official Google Blog: Here comes Google Voice

NY Times: One Number to Ring Them All

So far it’s only available in the US to people who had the predecessor offering, Grand Central. I can hardly wait for it to come to Canada and internationally.

PhotoJim · 12-03-2009, 18:55

This Canadian has the predecessor offering, but I can't yet upgrade to the new one. Apparently they are doing it in stages.

It looks like free forwarding and calling to Canada is going to disappear, which will be unfortunate, but not fatal. I have a US VoIP number to which I can forward it if needed.

snidely · 13-03-2009, 05:53

Jim - Didn't know GC had fwding to Canadian numbers. Terminating a call to Canada costs less than to a U.S. number which is why some providers charge less for a call to Canada than the U.S. Don't know why they would stop this.

...mike

Anyone know actual intl. rates by this.

bbob · 13-03-2009, 10:19

Well it's google so expect them to log everything.

now google has even more information on you. It can see who calls you for what time, who you are calling, logging your sms en voicemail, together with logging of your gmail en logging your searches they can make a nice profile of you.

Profiles are worth a lot and is nice for marketing.

Stay away fro google if you want privacy and I wouldn't even use them for your business giving away information to them.

DRNewcomb · 13-03-2009, 12:59

I have GrandCentral and my account is not yet ready to be converted, either. I actually found GrandCentral to be of limited use because I can't press the right key on my E61 fast enough to pick up the call before it's sent to voicemail.

bylo · 13-03-2009, 13:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by snidely

Anyone know actual intl. rates by this.

From NY Times article linked upthread, "If you dial your own Google Voice number from one of your phones, you’re offered an option to call overseas at rates even lower than Skype’s (and much lower than your cellphone company’s): 2 cents a minute to France or China, 3 cents to Chile or the Czech Republic. Sweet."

snaimon · **Same here -** 13-03-2009, 15:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRNewcomb

I have GrandCentral and my account is not yet ready to be converted, either. I actually found GrandCentral to be of limited use because I can't press the right key on my E61 fast enough to pick up the call before it's sent to voicemail.

As of last night my account was also not yet ready for conversion. I did not use GC at all. I must say I am not one who WANTS to be "always reachable." My cell is off and the wife is at home while I am at work. Those who know me will be able to reach me in due time. My livelihood (income) does not depend on my being reachable.

The low international rates might be interesting.

Stan

**easyroam-** · **Google not so good -** 16-03-2009, 18:26

Quote:

The last 6 months have been sobering for Google. Once at the top of the world, Google has seen its share price plummet and the idea that it would be immune to recession has been proven a fallacy.

So Google is doing what any good company does: cutting out the fat. It has already shuttered a number of projects that weren't going anywhere and is refocusing its efforts on its core business.

Google Checkout, the payments service that some thought might be a PayPal killer, Google is throwing in the towel in the worst way possible: it's hiking fees.

Effective May 5.

http://econsultancy.com/blog/3462-go...oogle-checkout

snidely · 20-03-2009, 05:08

I went in tonite and was able to upgrade my two GC accounts to G-Voice. One change, you have the option to not have to press "1" to answer a call.
Question here:
Can you access the G-Voice website via your "smartphone"? If so, would it pay to use GV to dial calls while roaming. Calls made this way would pass over the data stream, I presume. How much data does a voice call use in a minute?
They don't have int'l call fowarding - yet. Since it's on their "check here if you want it list - they are def. thinking about it.
I have been a light user of Grand Central. It has worked fine.

...mike

Grampa · 20-03-2009, 07:47

I don't think that's the way it works. You can definitely access the site via your smartphone, but if you press the "Call" link, it will first call you (on your cell if you wish) and then call the other party, then connect. So it would I think be counted as inbound airtime.

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	(#1 (permalink))
bylo (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Fan Posts: 143 Join Date: 03 Oct 2007 Country:	Google Voice • imagine the possibilities... - 12-03-2009, 18:25 Google Voice Official Google Blog: Official Google Blog: Here comes Google Voice NY Times: One Number to Ring Them All So far it’s only available in the US to people who had the predecessor offering, Grand Central. I can hardly wait for it to come to Canada and internationally. Phones: Samsung Galaxy Gio, Motorola KRZR K1, Nokia 1600b SIMs: 7-11 SpeakOut CA, tele.ring/A1/Yesss AT, Mobal R.I.P.: UM, UM+

	(#2 (permalink))
PhotoJim (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Expert Posts: 381 Join Date: 10 Dec 2006 Location: Regina, SK, CA Country:	12-03-2009, 18:55 This Canadian has the predecessor offering, but I can't yet upgrade to the new one. Apparently they are doing it in stages. It looks like free forwarding and calling to Canada is going to disappear, which will be unfortunate, but not fatal. I have a US VoIP number to which I can forward it if needed. GSM: CA: SaskTel (postpaid voice/data,,postpaid data), Rogers (postpaid data); UK: Orange, 3; CH: Swisscom; AT: tele.ring; US: T-Mobile, AT&T, Red Pocket Mobile, Telestial Simple Calling; EE: AirBalticcard CDMA: US: PagePlus Hardware: iPhone 4, iPhone 3G, Nokia E63, Nokia Nuron, Novatel Ovation MC950D & MC998D data sticks, Huawei UG1691 data stick (3G AWS), Motorola RAZR V3, Sony-Ericsson K610i, Sony-Ericsson Z310i, Otech F1 (quad sim) (all unlocked)

	(#3 (permalink))
snidely (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Expert Posts: 355 Join Date: 09 May 2005 Location: Berkeley, California and Miami Country:	13-03-2009, 05:53 Jim - Didn't know GC had fwding to Canadian numbers. Terminating a call to Canada costs less than to a U.S. number which is why some providers charge less for a call to Canada than the U.S. Don't know why they would stop this. ...mike Anyone know actual intl. rates by this. Primarily uses my grandfathered U.S. T-M phone when traveling - 29¢/min. incoming in many countries. [Had to give this up last year when I changed plans.] Now also make usee of T-M's UMA/wifi free calling from any place in the world w. access to wifi. Wife uses BB 8900, I use BB 9700, both UMA capable. U.S. T-Mobile unlimited minutes - $40/mo. BB is $20 extra + $5 for SMS.

	(#4 (permalink))
bbob (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Expert Posts: 491 Join Date: 20 Feb 2007 Country:	13-03-2009, 10:19 Well it's google so expect them to log everything. now google has even more information on you. It can see who calls you for what time, who you are calling, logging your sms en voicemail, together with logging of your gmail en logging your searches they can make a nice profile of you. Profiles are worth a lot and is nice for marketing. Stay away fro google if you want privacy and I wouldn't even use them for your business giving away information to them.

	(#5 (permalink))
DRNewcomb (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Professionist Posts: 1,253 Join Date: 27 Feb 2004 Location: Mississippi, USA Country:	13-03-2009, 12:59 I have GrandCentral and my account is not yet ready to be converted, either. I actually found GrandCentral to be of limited use because I can't press the right key on my E61 fast enough to pick up the call before it's sent to voicemail.

	(#9 (permalink))
snidely (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Expert Posts: 355 Join Date: 09 May 2005 Location: Berkeley, California and Miami Country:	20-03-2009, 05:08 I went in tonite and was able to upgrade my two GC accounts to G-Voice. One change, you have the option to not have to press "1" to answer a call. Question here: Can you access the G-Voice website via your "smartphone"? If so, would it pay to use GV to dial calls while roaming. Calls made this way would pass over the data stream, I presume. How much data does a voice call use in a minute? They don't have int'l call fowarding - yet. Since it's on their "check here if you want it list - they are def. thinking about it. I have been a light user of Grand Central. It has worked fine. ...mike Primarily uses my grandfathered U.S. T-M phone when traveling - 29¢/min. incoming in many countries. [Had to give this up last year when I changed plans.] Now also make usee of T-M's UMA/wifi free calling from any place in the world w. access to wifi. Wife uses BB 8900, I use BB 9700, both UMA capable. U.S. T-Mobile unlimited minutes - $40/mo. BB is $20 extra + $5 for SMS.

	(#10 (permalink))
Grampa (Offline) Member Advanced Member Posts: 97 Join Date: 01 Oct 2007 Country:	20-03-2009, 07:47 I don't think that's the way it works. You can definitely access the site via your smartphone, but if you press the "Call" link, it will first call you (on your cell if you wish) and then call the other party, then connect. So it would I think be counted as inbound airtime.