Google can you hear me?

Give me a call!

A while ago, Google bought Grand Central, a web-app designed to help you manage your phones. The original idea was that you could have one Grand Central number that could forward to other phones. If you get a new cell or home phone number, your Grand Central number would stay the same, and just forward to your new cell phone.
After Google bought Grand Central, they began developing it as
Google Voice. As soon as I could I signed up to get in on the beta. Just monday, I finaly got my invitation! I'm really impressed with all of the awesome features... Voicemail Storage
When someone first dials your Google Voice Number, it asks you for their name. Google voice will then connect that person to your phone. If it can't connect them to you, it directs then to your Google's Voicemail. This is great because once they've left their message, Google stores he voicemail on a server. You can then manage your voicemail just like you would your G-mail by deleting, staring, saving, and downloading the voicemails.

Voicemail Tanscribing
For the past couple of years, Google has been offering a public service called
GOOG-411. Simply dial 1-888-GOOG-411 and Google offers you a free 411 directory service. The service uses voice recognition to connect you to a business of your choice. What alot of people don't know, is Google has been using GOOG-411 to improve the accuracy and build a database of dialects and accents to improve their voice recognition software. They utlize this software in Google Voice to make automatic transcriptions of your voicemails! Imagine not even having to listen to your voicemails if you don't have access to your phone or re in some situation where it's too loud to hear. Google even has an option to send a text message wen you receive a voicemail, with a preview of what it says.
The voice recognition software still has a ways to go, but it's a great start

Multiple phones and Phone Filtering
You can have Google Voice forward your call to several phones. This way if you have a home and cell number, both will ring when you get a call. In addition you can block unwanted numbers, so you never get another call from the creepy guy next door.

Web Calls/Text Messages
Google Voice also allows you to make calls from your computer for free. As long as the number is in the U.S., you can call any number from the comfort of your computer. Google Voice also offers very competitive rates for international calling.

Embedding and Web Widgets
One of my favorite features is the web widget at the top of this post. I can make a widget that will allow anyone to call me from the web. It's really nice since it doesn't give out my number, it just connects someone to my phone. You can manage if the messages go straight to your phone or voicemail, and you can always disable it if you have problems. This is great if you want to offer an "Emergency" line on a social networking site, without giving your number out. You can also embed your voicemails and share them on your websites/blogs.

Google Voice is set to roll out in the next couple of months for the general public, and until then you'll have to try to get an invitation (I Currently don't have any invitations to give out ). There are still alot of Google Voice featured I've yet to explore. As with all Google products there are privacy concerns, but I think I'm going to give Google Voice a shot.