Even after hearing and reading about it, I still never put much interest into Google Voice. With time left to spare this morning, I decided to visit the Google Voice page and browse around to see what it's about. While it seems like a great feature for people with multiple numbers, it's pointless for someone like me to have it because I only have one phone number (there is a work number, but I don't have anyone call me there). I want to run down the list of features it provides and state how useless it is at this point. Every feature on this list already exists on many people's current phones which can even provide a better user experience. Just to clarify, I have not actually used Google Voice yet, but have signed up to receive an invite to try it out when available.* Call screening - Announce and screen callers
Isn't that was the Accept/Decline buttons on your phone are for? Unless it's providing you with a number and/or location for a blocked number, then it's not really a new feature.
* Listen in - Listen before taking a call
Most people don't talk on the phone while they are waiting to call. Would this be a way to listen to a person breathe so you can attempt to identify who they are? I'd assume that their phone number would show up, right?
* Block calls - Keep unwanted callers at bay
I've never had to block any one, but I'm sure there are ways to do this without Google Voice. Normally, the people that you block would find other ways to contact you, even by calling from another number.
* SMS - Send, receive, and store SMS
Every phone does this now. If yours doesn't, get a new one.
* Place calls - Call free within the continental US and to Canada
I don't make a lot of phone calls a month. For those people who are excessively going over their daily minutes, then maybe this is the solution.
* Taking calls - Answer on any of your phones
Again, I only have one phone, and I can take calls just fine on it. On a separate note, I have an iPhone on AT&T and haven't experience the dropped calls that many complain about (unless I'm going into an area with no reception).
* Phone routing - Phones ring based on who calls
* Forwarding phones - Add phones and decide which ring
I think these are the true features of Google Voice. This is only if you have multiple phones and have a lot of people calling on multiple numbers or people who don't know which number to correctly call (i.e. Don't call me at work, Mom), then this is what you need. It's your own private phone operator.
Correct me if I have the wrong impression of Google Voice. Do you use Google Voice? What benefits do you gain from have these extra features or sets of controls?
