I managed to get an invite to try Google Voice a couple of weeks ago. When coupled with the BlackBerry application, I think I’ve found almost the perfect answer to a lot of issues.
First, I’m one of those people who doesn’t give out my cell number. I consider my cell for my own use, not for everyone under the sun. Besides, I’m normally near a land line so I see little need for someone to call me on my cell, anyway. And when I’m not near a land line, I’m usually pretty busy and don’t want to be interrupted. Lastly, until I switched phones a few months ago, my cell phone was almost useless at home. I’m in a bad spot for TMobile coverage, a problem rectified by the Curve 8900’s WiFi.
With Google Voice, I was able to get a local phone number that can be configured to ring wherever I want: home, office, cell, any one of these or all of them. Configuring this through the web interface is really easy. The BlackBerry application is integrated with the onboard contact list, making calling and texting via Google Voice seamless. I’m not a big user of texting but I can see where this is going to save me a few bucks. (And is, probably, the reason why the iPhone application has been pulled.) At this time, the text messaging feature does not include a notification, which means for now, I still have to have the text messages sent the normal way in order to know that I have one. Once Google gets the notification taken care of, I’m going to dump my messaging plan 🙂
There are a lot of cool configurations in Google Voice for different ringtones and messages, depending on the caller. All of those features require that the caller’s phone number be included in your Google contact list. Well, that’s just something I’m not willing to do. Google is the epitome of Big Brother, and the last thing I would do is load up all my phone numbers for them to ultimately have access to. Besides, I’m having fun with the call screening thing 🙂 When a call comes in from someone not in your Google contact list, GV can be configured to have the person announce themselves. You can then decide whether to accept the call or send it to voicemail. And you can listen to the voicemail as it is being recorded, just like an answering machine, and take the call if necessary.
The voicemails are stored online and can be listened to there or on the phone. You can also get an email with the voicemail attached. GV also attempts to transcribe the voice mail (told you it was Big Brother), a convenient feature when you are otherwise engaged and cannot listen to the recording. (The transcription leaves a lot to be desired but it’s getting better.)
There are a number of other features that GV offers, including the ability to record calls, conferencing and the ability to switch phones during a call. But it’s the idea of having one number that I find most appealing. Despite my misgivings about Google taking over the world, I think this application is a keeper.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Very cool. Thanks for reviewing, Vivian. I am the exact opposite of you-–I move around a lot, and so I only have a cell phone. A landline is pointless when you’ve moved two times in the past three years and plan on more of the same.
However, this means that everyone under the sun has my cell number–my staff, my friends, colleagues, my boss, random people involved with all the random school stuff I do, random people I met once for coffee and decided I don’t actually want to talk to… I wouldn’t be surprised if you had it! 😉 Since I tend to not save phone numbers except for those I call a lot, the screening thing could be a ton of fun.
No I don’t have it 🙂 But another cool feature that you would probably appreciate is the call block. That way, you’d never hear from those random people again 😉
You wanna bet? For a while, if you ran my name through Google, it would come up. In other news, I hate the American Constitution Society at my law school. I loved the work, I didn’t like Old Lawyer No. 1 informing me that he already had my cell # because it was on the ACS website. Oy. I’m so looking into this.