Google Voice
 

I just got an invite from Google to use this. Has anyone else used this? I really haven't found any uses for it since I can't make outgoing calls directly from it without using my own phone. I guess the real value is that I now have a clever number to give out and people can leave voicemails on it???

So does anyone have any novel uses yet?

(no invites yet sorry :( )

When did you sign up for an invite? I'm still waiting for mine. Also I don't think they are doing the invites gmail style (users send out invites). I think this time they are just sending out the invites to people on their list. Though if you do get an invite PM me. I've got a G1 and have been waiting for voice for a long time.


Here are some things you can do with google voice that are neat.

1) set up myfaves (or similar calling plans) to point to the google voice number and get free calls from/to that number (you have to set up GV correctly for the incoming calls).

2) If you give that number to people for incoming calls you can have it ring all your phones. For me this means have my cell phone ring my office phone so I can answer it there and not use minutes and have a more comfortable phone to my ear.

3) Make extremely cheap long distance phone calls without prepaid cards. (Their rates are better than most calling cards).

4) Make phone calls from your computer using VOIP

5) Make phone calls from you phone using VOIP (requires internet on the phone and certain apps)

I'm sure there are others....

If anyone has received their invite please post when you applied for an invite. If anyone has an invite to spare pm me ;)

I've been using it for over a year, since it was Grand Central.
I love it. I moved from Seattle to Portland, didn't want to change my cell phone, but needed a local area code for my business. Perfect solution.
And because of the prompts it gives, I know if the call is from a friend or a customer.
Now it even transcribes the voicemails people leave and sends them to me as a text.

Totally great service. I'll be sad when I have to start paying for it, but it will be worth it.

It is google. You won't have to pay for it.

Google's business model is this:

1) Give consumers great products for free
2) Data mine the crap out of those consumers in order to better understand them.
3) Charge businesses to place adds in front of the consumers
3) Target the well understood consumers with advertisements


Since google understands the people well their click through rate is quite high and businesses like this. They can advertise to people who want to see the advertisements without annoying those who don't want to see them.

I forward my cell phone voicemail to it, and thereby get my voicemail speech-to-text'ed and emailed to me. Their S-to-T is poor, but you can usually get sort of a grip on what the message is saying.

i want to try it. How?

---------- Post added at 05:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:10 PM ----------

ahh... here's how:

Google Voice


but you have to wait unless you already use Grand Central

I signed up a LONG time ago when it was still called GrandCentral and everyone was so pissed they couldn't get an invite. At least a year maybe?

Word - I guess it's not useful for me because I only have a cell phone. So basically if I had a Skype account and used that, I could have it so that it calls my mobile and this, that way I can just answer calls from my PC (via Skype, not free of course :( ) ?? Sounds neat.

Also nice if I don't want to give out my mobile to people personally.

So I could use GV as a free VOIP number? Are we to assume it's only free GV-to-GV calls while VOIP to landline/cellphones cost something like skype?

I think you can use GV with voip software like gizmo. I'm not sure about skype. I'm still waiting for my invite :(

GV isn't anything like skype. It's best thought of as a plain-old POTS line with some magic features. So, yeah, it'll forward calls to skype, no problem. And you can skype to it.

GV ONLY charges for international calling. ALL domestic calls are free.

This service sounds oustanding... such a better option then getting ruthlessly gouged by cell phone companies

woohoo got an invite :)

Trying to decide if I want to choose a number now or wait to see if I can get a number matching my zip code.

I have an extra invite anyone need one?

ygpm!

The invite is given away now. I'll post if I get any more.

dammit, i should have taken that 212 number, now I'm 646. Lame. Lame, I tell you. 212 is the real deal for NYC. :P

I been playing around with mine for the most part since I got it a few weeks ago.

I signed up for an invite when it was Grand Central and again when they actually listed it as Google Voice, I got mine the night they started giving out the invites.

It has really got me interested in Craigslist a lot more now since I just put my GV number in the ads and not worry about some fucktard calling my cell 18 times in an hour and a half like I have had happen in the past.

Almost forgot to add that now they have a GV dialer for Blackberry that makes it even better to use with my cell phone.

I received my invite only to find out the service is only available in the US.

Crap. I want a 416 number!

I have 2 more invites. Anyone need one?

Yes! Please!

---------- Post added at 10:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:50 PM ----------

Oh, aside for wanting an invite, here's a question for people...

Can you change your Google Voice number once you've picked it?

Yes but the cost is $10.

Not too unreasonable.

I've heard they might make it possible to transfer your current # to Google Voice in the future, which would make migration a ton easier. Has anyone heard any details about this? Think they'll offer early adopters the opportunity to freely switch their Google Voice # to one they already had/have?

They have said they are going to allow porting but I decided that porting wouldn't be the greatest because I got such an easy to remember number.

Also I still have 1 more invite if someone is interested pm me your email.

How did you pick your number? I looked for clusters of same (3333) or consecutive (1234) digits, and ended up getting one with 3456 in it ^_^

I couldn't find a worthwhile word, but I did manage to get a number that is very close to my current cell number. I just did a search for the last 4 digits, and one of my results was a number which has only the 2nd and 3rd digits that are different from my cell number. I was pleased :)

I started by searching for clusters of 4 numbers (I didn't find any). Then I searched for clusters of 3 numbers and found a bunch. I got lucky because one of the local codes (the code after the area code) is 999. I then searched for clusters of 3 numbers after the 999 and found that there was a number that had 999-888 in it.

Where are you getting invites from?

I don't see the option to send an invite out to anyone.

You could also look for number that spell words.

I knew someone that had 233-9676 or Bed Worm.

I am sure there any number of combinations to be had.

I signed up with lots of different email addresses ;) I have a couple work addresses, 1 personal address, 1 spam address, etc.

I still have 1 left if someone wants one.

Rekna: If you're willing to part with it, I'd be interested in that invite.

Sorry I'm out now and am not expecting any more invites. Though you should be able to request an invite directly from google and get it fairly fast.

I am still waiting for my damnable invite. I signed up a several weeks ago and got nothing. My girlfriend signed up and got her invite within a week. I would certainly take an invite if anyone gets any extras.

however i think skype is great,anyway it is just my feeling

So did you signed up or not? Google voice though only available only in the US it doesn't mean you can not use it outside of US.