Google Voice: A Review

Google Voice is the newest service that the infamous Google has released. Google Voice is in its simplest form is a phone number, but in actuality it is much more. It allows someone to have just one phone number that can ring multiple phones. For example, it can be set up so a cell phone, house phone, and work phone all ring when a certain number is dialed?

So what? What's the big deal? Google Voice has many great implications. If you move or change phone numbers, you usually have to give everyone your new phone number. With Google Voice that will never need to happen. Since people already have your Google Voice number they will not have to learn a new phone number. You can just update what phones ring when your Google number is called.

It also allows you to personalize your phone number. Sometimes you can choose the area code and other times you can choose a phrase in your number such as "JEREMYR." Having the ability to customize a phone number is truly amazing and can be a great benefit to any business.

What are the additional features of Google Voice that make it so great? One of my favorite things is that you can get emails and/or text messages of voicemails. If someone leaves a voicemail you can receive a transcribed version of the message, which is almost always 100% accurate. This really cuts down on the time of having to go through your voicemail options just to hear a 10 second message.

Also, you can set different answering machine options for different people or groups. Let's say you have three groups: A, B, and C. In group A you have 3 people. In group B there are 5 people. And in group C there are 2 people. Group A can get a voicemail that says, "Hi, I am not here right now." Group B can hear, "I do not want to talk to your since I am at work." Group C can hear nothing and go straight to voicemail. The last is great especially if there are people you do not want to talk to.

One more feature which is really cool is the Listen In feature. This allows you to listen in to a voicemail as it is being recorded similar to an answering machine. You can decide if you want to take the call right there or let it finish.

Google Voice is an amazing service offered from Google. It is free, but only available to people who receive an invite. Check out this site to learn more: http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html .