Google Voice goes mainstream — should you be using it?

Recently Google has quietly opened Google Voice  up to anyone with a Google Account.   Google Voice has been around for well over a year and, in short, Google gives you a phone number that LINKS to your existing phone numbers.  So what?

Why is this important?  Think of Google Voice as your phone’s SPAM filter.  But it is much more.  Google Voice let’s you have a One-to-Many relationship — stay with me!  One phone number from Google can link up with many of yours.  Someone can call your Google Voice and it will ring home, work, cell, pager, and vacation house at once.  Or, you go out of town and want it to ring that office location or relative’s house… Do not want to be so accessible?  Even better…

Guess what!  Google Voice protects you from having to answer the phone.  Say you are either a busy type or one of the many slightly anti-social types (yes Jen, I’m thinking of you!).  You can avoid answering the phone and get a transcript of the message as a text message or email…  You can “listen in” as someone is leaving a message and then decide to pick up.  Yep…   You can decide which phones you want to ring based on who is calling!  Or put them right to voicemail…

You can record calls, combine calls with video chat, make international calls, and transcribe calls.  It is not prime time for business user, yet.  Having emailed transcript of your voice messages is a great feature.  And they almost get it right!   If you are someone who’s voicemail box is always full (yes I’m talking about you Carol) or someone who hates listening to them all then jump on Google Voice!  If you are considering using it for your business you may want to call me, on my Google Voice number, and we can figure out how it fits.  Try it  484-639-9789!

For more info from Google check out: http://www.youtube.com/googlevoice

Selected features of Google Voice:

• * Forward calls from your Google Voice number to one or many phones, or directly to voicemail.
  * Google Voice will transcribe voicemails and then send as email and/or SMS to your cell phone.
  * Receive SMS alerts when you get a call (txt msg).
  * Select which phone will ring based on whom is calling.
  * Listen in to voicemail messages as they’re being recorded and pick up on the call if you want!
  * Screen callers by asking for / recording their names.
  * SPAM filter annoying callers by playing a number-not-in-service recording when they call.
  * Through advanced settings create personalized greetings by caller.
  * Another advanced feature is to record phone conversations and listen to them in your Google Voice inbox.
  * Switch phones during the same call.
  * Use the free GOOG 411 service to say the name and location of a business, and have your call connected for free.

There are many more features and cool little twists Google has added to the service.  Like the change phone feature?  You’re coming home and your cell is dying.  Hit the Star * key as soon as you walk in the door and your house phone (if set up as a forward) will ring and you can pick up the call there…

So what are the issues?

Privacy! Aren’t you getting a little concerned just how much information Google has on you???

Money! Sure it’s free now, but you get what you pay for…  Try getting timely support.  And what happens once Google starts advertising on it?

Cloud! The cloud is still unreliable.  And Google’s not going to kill themselves to provide the reliability a business requires.

Who? Don’t you hate scrambled caller ID?  Many people call back the number they see on their ID.  Unless you jump through hoops it will not be your Google Voice number.

I said Who? Are you really going to change your business cards?  Give it to your Doctor?  Make your mom use it?  Getting people to switch and making it stick 9see caller-id above) may prove to be difficult leaving Google Voice more as a novelty…

Not you! It is not a sanctioned Business Offering, yet…  Be cautious, you will not have great support and what happens if Google starts advertising in your clients voice mail box???  You leave a message and they provide ads for competitors?