Google Voice Goes Public
Google announced on its official blog today that it has opened up Google Voice to the public, no invitation required, but the service is limited to U.S. residents.
Google Voice is a free phone management system that has been in development for over a year. Google offered the service by invitation only, prioritizing U.S. requests from military personnel and college students. Google reports there are currently over a million active Google Voice users.
Google Voice can be used to transcribed voice messages to text , ring multiple phones like cell and office phones through one number, block callers with one click, manage individualized greetings for each phone in the program, set up free conference calls, and offer cheap international calls through its Internet calling feature similar to Skype.
Along with phone management, Google Voice integrates users' real time phone communication with their computers. For instance, with the Google plugin for the Chrome Web browser, users can access their messages and receive notifications from a button installed in the Chrome toolbar.
The Google Voice app is available for free download for Android and BlackBerry from www.m.google.com/voice. A Web-based version can be downloaded for use in a phone's browser for iPhones, Palm, Nokia, Windows and others from the same site.
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