Google Voice

Google Voice is coming soon.  What is Google Voice?  Basically, you get a new phone number from Google (free, of course).  Then, using Google's web based control panel, you can tell Google how to route and handle inbound calls.  There is even free voice mail transcription!  More details in the full text.

Google Voice is coming soon.  What is Google Voice?  Basically, you get a new phone number from Google (free, of course).  Then, using Google's web based control panel, you can tell Google how to route and handle inbound calls.  There is even free voice mail transcription!  More details in the full text.
The concept is that you have a phone number that is tied to you, as a person, not tied to a specific device or location.  This makes it easier for people to contact you, since they just need to have "your" phone number.  They no longer need to get your cell number, your work number, your home number, and then when you change cell carriers, your new cell number, etc.  They just have "your" phone number. 

Once you have your Google Voice phone number, you login to the control panel to set your preferences.  For example, you could say that all inbound calls go to my cell phone.  Or you could say, all inbound calls go to my cell first, and then to my home number.  Or, you could say, if I receive a call from the group "friends" then route the call to my cell, otherwise, route it immediately to voice mail.  If I receive a call from the contact "Mom", route to all phones, and so on.

Google Voice promises to make voicemail as easy as email.  Voice messages are available to listen on your phone, or through the Google Voice website.  In addition, the free transcription service attempts to convert the voicemail to text so it can be read like an email.  As expected, the accuracy of voicemail transcription is not perfect, but it is free and it does provide at least an idea of the purpose of the call, even if certain words are not translated accurately.

There are many other features available.  One of them is Call Switch, that allows you to take a current call and transfer it to another phone.  So, if you are on a call at work and need to get going, you can transfer the call from your work phone over to your cell phone and then head out.  In classic Google fashion, this feature is actually easy to use.  During a call, simply press the * key, and all of your other phones in your profile will ring.  Pick up the other phone and bam, call switched.

Since Google Voice is not generally available yet, if you'd like to get an invite when it is ready, fill out this Google form: https://services.google.com/fb/forms/googlevoiceinvite/

The full feature list and more info is here: https://www.google.com/voice/about