Google Voice Works for Me; Starting Today Invites Are Going to New Users

Have you been waiting for a Google Voice number? Soon, you may be getting an invite to join in and pick your number. They've even added a feature to help you pick a 'personalized' number like 212-CALL-SAM if it's available. Pick well, because you'll probably have it for a long time. I've had mine for over two years.

There are there main questions you might have about Google Voice. First, what is it? It's a switching station with voicemail service that you can use to get your calls and handle them as you like. Second, is it reliable? After more than two years with it, I'd say yes. And third, is it going to tie me in to Google in some proprietary way? Everything I see there is standards-based, and they seem to be enthusiastic about helping you wire their service into your other phone products and services.

My experience with Google Voice and its predecessor, Grand Central, has been all good. Even though I have moved, changed cellphone carriers, had multiple cell phones and even a Skype phone number, what is now my Google Voice number hasn't changed. Someone I met a couple of years ago can give me a call. My business cards are still valid. And yet, when someone gets my number and thinks repeated calling equals marketing, with a click of my mouse their calls start going to voicemail or even a dead end.

If you called me in May of 2007, I can look at my caller log from back then and find your number, too (hopefully it hasn't changed!). Your voicemail will still be there, too. If you called in the last couple of months, I will have a text version of your voicemail that Google Voice generated automatically, and sent to me as a text (SMS) message. It's handy, but now I have no excuses when someone calls and leaves a message, it doesn't expire and I won't accidentally delete it or miss it without a lot of effort. I can monitor incoming calls, pick up, all those cool features answering machines have.

Google Voice has added outcalling at nice rates, which is also handy for using my Google Voice number when calling out so people won't get confused when checking their caller ID. They also have an outgoing SMS service.

Though so far users have been limited to having one phone number, Google Voice will send your call to several phones if you want, which you can easily change as you like. Your SMS voicemail notifications and transcriptions (a text version of your voicemail message) go to whichever phone you choose. And Google Voice will route calls using the caller ID number of the caller. You can redirect them to your phones, your voicemail, an announcement or even a 'not in service' tone.

One phone number that is still separate from Google Voice, although it's not voice so that's fine with me, is my Fax number.

Google Voice as Grand Central has also worked with VOIP/SIP providers so it is likely that the service will continue to expand in its connectivity with your business PBX and other services and gadgets.

If you're in the queue to get a Google Voice invite, enjoy! If my experience is any indication, you can expect to stop sending email updates with the subject 'New Phone Number' and look forward to keeping in touch over the long run in an exciting - and reliable - new way.

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/google-voice-invites-on-their-way.html