Google Voice

Ever wish you could just answer your home phone instead of your running to get your cell phone that's charging in the other room?

Ever wish you could screen a caller before deciding to take the call?

Ever wish you could record a conversation in order to remember directions or important information?

Ever wish you could read your voice mail instead of listening to it?

Ever need to leave the house and wish you could "transfer" the call to your cell?

Ever wanted to have unlimited calling from your cell, your home, and your office phone for free?

Ever wish you could send that telemarketer or annoying caller to voice mail automatically based on their caller ID?

OK, OK. I could go on and on - but if you answered "yes" to any or more of the above questions then Google Voice is going to be for you. It's currently in private beta and I'm lucky enough to have an account because I was a GrandCentral user (who was purchased by Google and became Google Voice this month).

How many phone numbers do you think you'll have over the next 10-15 years? If you consider home phone numbers, work phones, cell phones... they really add up. I once had the same cell phone number for almost 10 years and gave it up when my company offered a free Cell phone. Just last week someone told me they tried to call me on that number (who now belongs to some girl who sounds like she's in a rap video, but I digress).

ONE NUMBER FOR LIFE

The foundation of what Google Voice offers is this: Get one number, for life, and give it to everyone.

GET CONTACTED WHEN A WHERE YOU WANT TO

Enter your contacts by category such as business, family, and friends and tell Google Voice where these people can reach you. When your family calls your GV number, you can set it up to have your cell phone and home phone ring. When business contacts call, you can send them to voice mail if it's after 6PM or on the weekend, and have your cell phone and office phone ring during the work week. When you pick up one of the phones - the other stops ringing.

SCREEN ALL OF YOUR CALLS

Screening allows you to know who's calling. If your callers are in your Contacts list, Google Voice will read their names. New callers will be asked to say their names the first time they call.

RECORD A CALL

To record your call, simply press 4. You can do it when you first accept a call, or any time after it's started. Pressing 4 again (or hanging up) will stop it. Your recordings are saved online and you can access them just like you do with voice mail.

VOICE MAIL TRANSCRIPTION

Google will transcribe your messages and email them to you at any email address you provide. These voice mails them become search able via a key word in the future.

SWITCH PHONES DURING A CALL

To switch phones in the middle of an incoming call, just press * while you're talking, and your other phones will ring. Then, for example, you can pick up the call from your mobile phone (if you're about to head out), or from your desk.

MUCH MORE

These are only some of the awesome features of Google Voice. Go ahead and sign up here and get ready to be part of the future of telecommunications.