Mountain View, California — Barely a week after reserving 1 million phone numbers with Level 3, Google, late last week began sending out invitations to users who have expressed interest in Google Voice, the company’s online voice mail and call management system. Users have been waiting months for Google Voice service to go live.
Google Voice, the start-up technology from GrandCentral that Google acquired in 2007, allots users a new phone number that can simplify reaching that user.
Google announced on its press blog, “We are happy to share that Google Voice is beginning to open up beyond former GrandCentral users,” said Google Voice product managers Craig Walker and Vincent Paquet in a blog post.
“If you requested an invitation on the Google Voice site or previously on GrandCentral, chances are quite positive that you get the invite in e-mail today, enabling them to pick a number that can be personalized. “See if you can find a number that contains your name, a specific word or a number combination,” Google said on its blog.
Google last week reserved 1 million phone numbers through network operator Level 3 Communications, a move described as a sign of the company’s intent to open Google Voice to a large number of new users.
Google launched Google Voice as a private beta test in March and at the time stated that the service would start accepting new users in a few weeks.
Google Voice gives you one phone number that you give out to everyone, which can be used to route calls to up to six other phone numbers, based on criteria determined by the user. It also includes voicemail services, transcriptions of those messages, outbound calls, recording of inbound calls, and SMS text messaging to anyone in your Google Contacts list with a cell phone.
When a person calls the Google Voice number, the user’s home, work, and mobile phones all can ring simultaneously. The user can set up the service so specific phones ring for different callers or groups of callers, or so some callers go straight to voice mail.
Its most broadly appealing feature is the ability to place free domestic calls in the United States and low-rate international calls to select countries.
Other unique features include the ability to screen calls, to block calls, and to receive e-mail or SMS notifications when voice mail messages are left. Google also has integrated the Voice service with Gmail contact lists.
Google Voice transcribes voice mails, and lets people read or listen to them through a Gmail-like interface. (Credit: Google)
Once an invitation is received, then simply select the link and follow the instructions that would enable you to setup your new Voice account. Furthermore, Google has also included a number picker that enables you to search by area code and text. Check out to see if you can find a number that contains your name, a specific word or a number combination.
To know more about Google Voice, watch out the video below. If you have not yet signed up for a Google Voice invite, then enlist yourself by leaving us your email address at www.google.com/voiceinvite.