Google Voice

http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/topstocks/archive/2009/03/12/free-long-distance-oh-yeah-google-s-going-there.aspx

Is this going to be another game-changer for Google?

 

How is it different from Skype?

 

If you can call US numbers for free that would be a major plus. On skype landlines are the 1 cent a minute but cell phones are 10-20 cents. If they can get the international markets (UK for free and what not) I would switch right away. Right now I spend over $300 a month on skype, but this is still cheaper than having people call my UK number, I still have to pay for skype to "call" my UK number at about 10 cents a minute. If google gets this, then it will be game over for skype.

 

Wha????? Don't you have a pro account? I have pro and I get unlimited calls for like $20 bucks I think.

 

Did you read the article?

 

I see now, I thought this was just an extension of their Google Talk.

 

This is the product that evolved after they purchased Grand Central.

 

But will Google be listening in?

 

Because in the UK its only for landlines, I only have a mobile over here.

Its still cheaper than basic phone packages, before I got skype it was $500+ a month usually

 

This is a game changer, and I am in the VoIP business. Google has a huge brand and they are ubiquitous on the desktop. If you're a small business owner, and you're tapped for cash, you'll go for this.

The only thing that hurts Google is that there's no feet on the street "selling" for them, so they fight for mindshare with the system manufacturers (e.g., my company). Of course, their "system" is free, so that justifies not having people promoting it.

If I were them, I'd be all over TV with this. It's huge and it has me nervous about my company's long term prospects in this space.

 

Apparently the new product has a feature which will translate your voicemail into email or text.

Having used the Google voice search that came as a part of the RC33 operating system update on the Android G1 phone, the Google voice recognition is 99% accurate without training.

Which means they can turn your phone calls into text. Which means they can search the text of your conversations and ostensibly refine the ads you see to be targeted much like they do with your emails today.

Totally spooky.

 

According to the demo video, you can turn the feature off. Doesn't mean they can't or won't do it on their side to push ads but it does show an option to turn it off.

 

I know what you mean. Although I love my ShoreTel system it gets dated pretty quickly.

 

Game changer all the way...

In unrelated news, Google Voice is launching as a replacement for Google's (News - Alert) GrandCentral service. ***Aside from adding important new voice-to-text features and text messaging, Google Voice will include actual call origination and termination services as well. That has the potential to make Google a bigger player in user voice communications.***

 

Wade,

Who is going to power this for them??? This is not a Skype model

 

It's definitely not a Skype model. It's akin to unified communications that you'd see in a ShoreTel, Avaya, or Cisco PBX. GrandCentral is the technology that "powers" it, and you must get a "Google" number. There is a charge for long distance, but it's extremely low.

Keep in mind that this could increase "eyeballs" and drive more revenue from online ad space. As the main portal for managing your calls, call direct, voicemail, etc. is through the Google portal, it's a built in winner for them.

A small business owner could now buy a cordless VTech or Sony phone for $20.00, use his/her normal cell phone, and have a GoogleVoice number route calls or simultaneously ring a number as needed. This is especially cool with the cell phone, since he/she can give out the cell phone number to friends, but also have the Google number (the "business" line) ring the phone as well.

This is huge...I would sign up for this tomorrow if I were an SMB owner.

 

Its on the radio here (Ireland) that Google are coming to take pictures of all our houses. Creepy.

 

HIJACK ALERT!....

Why "creepy"? - Anyone could do it, it's just that Google is - And the beauty of Google (IMHO) is they then make it available to all - No charges / subscriptions etc. ["Information wants to be free!"] They also "smudge" number plates / peoples faces etc. The result is, IMHO, awesome.

Have you ever "played" with Google Streetview? - I think if you mess with it a little the "creepiness" factor goes away.

My 02c,
Cheers,
Ian

 

I was just joking. Non of Google's activities are creepy in isolation, however put them all together and they are in a position to build a very acurate profile of you (which I believe they do), right down to what you do on the internet, what you say on the phone, what you email. They even have access to your calendar, and more potentially. I am sure they only do this for warm cuddly reasons, like choosing the best gift to send loyal customers at Christmas. A bit paranoid, but I prefer not to let a single company know that much about me so I only use some of their services and not all.

 

Skype may be getting a jump into ordinary consumers useage at the same time through the Nokia N97 which will route all its call over Skype using two methods.
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I just received my invation today. I'll let you know how it works.

 

I've had this since it was Grand Central. It has some cool features and works well. I liked the Grand Central layout better though.

 

I also had it back when it was grand central, I never used it becasue it was confusing when I told people to call be but test me to a different number. With the new features I really like the service.

 

"It's a floorwax AND a dessert topping!"

With a less than amazing launch (to the public, which really counts) of their browser, phone, their o/s, the "morning after" feel to gmail and gtalk, Google needs a big "W" and I don't think this is it. They need to stay with their core business, search and re-revolutionze that, and Bing has made some headway there. While geek early adopters will look at this, it will not become a mom and pop service which they will ultimately need to survive. Mom and pop use ebay and they have not adopted Skype, what makes Google think the general public will use their service and how can they market it?

Personally, I am a Skype guy, I video chat with family and friends around the world from VCR on Sundays. I am even prepping to move my new business to the Skype business service.

 

They don't need a big win, they are doing exactly what they should do. You are correct that their core business is ads (which is driven by search). However, many companies have proven over time that is a risky strategy. Look at Altavista, Yahoo, Lycos, etc. - it works, but someone better can come along. Google's strategy is NOT ads and search...it's to be an alternative to Microsoft in the Enterprise. Where Microsoft is a closed, proprietary system, Google plans to be an open, web-based system that can be fully integrated and modified by 3rd parties.

The reason Google doesn't have a big launch is because they have NO intent of generating revenue from GV today. That will change in the future, as a key feature of Microsoft's offering is something called OCS - effectively an embedded PBX for the enterprise. OCS is a big threat to companies like Cisco, and would further solidify Microsoft's hold on the Enterprise. So, ultimately, when Google Enterprise is strengthened with features and more businesses jump on board, they'll have the necessary features to be a real option to Microsoft.

As a fellow GV user, we've all become "beta" testers of the product. It's totally buggy, but that's fine - this is the beauty of their strategy...they CAN release buggy stuff - it's FREE. So you and I and our friends test and test and test, we provide feedback, Google improves to the point where there's enough in there to start charging. Keeps cost low and minimized investment in something that could fail. It's absolutely BRILLIANT.

Note, I happen to be a Microsoft FAN - I never believed in Google...my opinion has changed a little. They are really positioning themselves well. As long as they remain dominant in the ad / search space (which they will), they can continue to fund these experiments to hone their Enterprise offering over time.