Google Voice is the Next New Phone Technology

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Google has released an incredible new service called Google Voice. Google Voice gives you a Google Phone Number in that serves as one meta number with tons of features for contact, voicemail, and call management. You can register all of your current phone numbers and when your Google Number is dialed, all of your registered phones will ring. You can even select which phones ring based on contact groupings. Phone calls, voicemail, and even SMS messages are seemlessly manageable online.

It took less than 24 hours to receive my invitation upon initial request. I've registered my cellphone as well as my SkypeIn number. When someone calls my Google Number I have a choice to answer via Skype if I'm at my computer! This could be a potential money saver if I can lower my minutes plan and even my SMS plan since I am sending a large portion of texts now through Google Voice online. Oh and it's easier to type them out as well :)

Some other features include:

One number for all your calls and SMS

* Call screening - Announce and screen callers
* Listen in - Listen before taking a call
* Block calls - Keep unwanted callers at bay
* SMS - Send, receive, and store SMS
* Place calls - Call US numbers for free
* Taking calls - Answer on any of your phones
* Phone routing - Phones ring based on who calls
* Forwarding phones - Add phones and decide which ring

One number for all your calls and SMS
Voicemail as easy as email, with transcripts

* Voicemail transcripts - Read what your voicemail says
* Listen to voicemail - Check online or from your phone
* Notifications - Receive voicemails via email or SMS
* Personalize greeting - Vary greetings by caller
* Share voicemail - Forward or download voicemails

Voicemail as easy as email, with transcripts
More cool things you can do with Google Voice

* Conference calling - Join people into a single call
* Call record - Record calls and store them online
* Call switch - Switch phones during a call
* Mobile site - View your inbox from your mobile
* GOOG-411 - Check directory assistance
* Manage groups - Set preferences by group

Learn More Here