“Huh? I know Google, but what is Google Voice?” I thought you might say that.
Short version? A quick and easy way to get in touch with us — just click the “balloon” on the right side of our front page, input your area code and phone number, and it will ring your phone and connect you directly with us — that simple!
Here’s a more detailed explanation: In Google’s never ending quest to add more and more unique applications that we cannot live without, they have struck a sweet spot with their new Google Voice. More accurately, like they did with YouTube and other applications, they have found a very promising new toy that already existed (it was called Grand Central before), and added it to the Google family.
Here’s what it is: you have a unique, NEW phone number that you select, and you decide which phone you want that number to ring to. Its just that simple. You can change which phone it rings to at any time, so your number can “follow” you. Plus, it has built in voice mail, which e-mails you when you get a new call or message. Got Google’s GMail? It will e-mail you a computerized transcript of the message (its a computer doing it, so it can be a bit amusing to see how the message gets transcribed, especially if the caller is talking fast).
Long distance calls in the lower 48 states? FREE! Plus incredibly low rates for worldwide long distance (like $0.02 per minute to Europe) — almost unbelievable to me — if you are old like me, you might remember your phone bills 20 years ago when you were in college calling your girlfriend 2 states away — it sure as heck was NOT three cents a minute — and she WASN’T in Switzerland!!
Technology is an amazing thing.
OK, so how much per month does Google charge for all these great features? NOTHING – ZILCH – NADA! Zero dollars and Zero cents. Wow.
There could be a waiting list as I write this. I got signed up 18 months ago, when it was still “Grand Central”, and I had to wait around for a while to even be able to pick my number from the available list that they had.
Go type in “Google Voice” to Googles search engine and check it out…
