Google Voice Review
How many of you have heard of Google Voice? I heard about it months and months ago and I signed up to receive it when it rolled out. I had not given it anymore thought until last week when I received an e-mail from Google telling me I was accepted and to go and select my new phone number. “Woo Hoo” I thought, but I didn’t know why I was excited. The more I have messed with it over the last week, the more I get excited about the possibilities.
The Google Voice e-mail I received, sent me to my Google Account and it directed me to select a phone number that I desired from quite a long list of available telephone numbers in my area. All of the numbers that were listed, were in my own area code. I went through and selected a number that looked easy to remember. I won’t reveal my new number here yet because I’m not sure who I want to have it yet until I have it all figured out.
Once I selected my new number, I was instructed to select a phone number that I wanted my Google number to forward to. I selected my mobile number of course. We have not had a land line at my house in over 3 years. How it works, is that anyone you give your Google number to, when they call it, it will actually forward to whatever number you set up. What I like about this is I don’t have to give my real number to anyone that I don’t want to have it.
Here’s what happens when you call my Google Voice number. You will receive a prompt from Google the first time you call me and they will ask for your name. Google records your name and then my phone will ring. When I answer, it tells me that I have a call from Joe and I hear Joe as he spoke his name. I’m asked if I want to accept the call or send it to voice mail. How cool is that? it’s like I have my own private secretary and I can screen my calls. The number that comes in to my cell phone is always a 605 area code which I now recognize as a Google Voice call.
Folks, it gets better if you are a Geek. I love this stuff. Let’s say that I let your call go to voice mail. When you leave me a voice mail and hang up, I receive a text message on my phone telling me I have a new voicemail and also a transcribed text message of your voice mail. I don’t even have to go listen to your message. In addition, I receive an e-mail telling me I have a new voicemail and it will list the phone number it came from. Now even better, it gives me a link where I can just play your voicemail from my computer in my Google Voice account. The voicemail recording as well as the transcribed text is in my account and I can refer to it there.
I have not tried out all of the features yet but another thing it will do is record your telephone calls. This could be a very good feature, especially for someone like me who suffers from CRS. Can’t Remember $hit. If you have called me on my Google number all I have to do is press the 4 on my keypad and it will record our conversation until I press 4 again. The caller on the other end will hear that the conversation is being recorded so they will know. If you didn’t want them to know, just cough real loud for a couple of seconds when you press 4 and they will probably never hear the fact that they are being recorded. Now I didn’t just say that. The recorded voicemail will be stored in your Google Voice account and you can listen to the recording immediately. I think it will be a wonderful tool for bloggers who may want to do telephone interviews. The recording quality is excellent.
Just below is what I’m really excited about. The ability to place a Google Voice Widget on this blog that will allow you, the reader, to make voice comments about this blog or a particular article. I think that will give a new dimension to your blog and the interaction with your readers whether it be a hyperlocal blog or any kind of blog. It’s very simple if you would like to make an audio comment. It’s free. Your name and number will not be published. All that I will see is your phone number. To place the call, you must type in a name of some sort.
I would really love for you to help me with this experiment. This is a first for me and if anyone else on the internet is doing it, I’m not aware of it. If you will leave me an audio comment and if you don’t mind, I’ll publish your audio comment here in this article. I think it will be fun.
Make sure you have your phone with you
Click the Google “Call Me” graphic below. Type a name (fake if you want). Enter your phone number. Click the connect button. Your phone will ring. When you answer, you will hear it ring and then you will hear my greeting. After my greeting, just leave whatever message for me that you would like to. If you think I’m a big goober, that’s ok, tell me I am. If you are planning to name your next son after me, tell me and I’ll leave him in my will when I die. Say whatever you want to say. Hang up.
What I will do, is embed your voice message in a player here at the bottom of the article. Come back later to listen to your message and any others I receive.
Example: Here is a test call that I made using the Google Voice widget. Why don’t you give it a try, I’d love to hear a message from you!
If you are an e-mail subscriber, you may have to visit the site to listen.
Thanks to Medic who was the first to give it a go below. Thanks Medic! Give it a try for yourself!
[display_podcast]
Sign up today for your own Google Voice Number.
I found this video review on YouTube that you might be interested. The video is pretty informative but a little long and a little boring, but if you watch the videos I make you are already used to that!!
************************************************
Copyright 2009 BloggerLens.com Hyperlocal Blogs & Citizen Journalism
Check out these awesome articles while you are here:
@Medic. Thanks for trying my new Google voice. it worked perfectly.
How about using your extra number as a tip line of sorts?
Display it prominently on your blog, have people call in with news, and view it in the text voicemail that Google generates.
If you mentioned that in your post, I’m sorry. I haven’t slept in many hours…
I think a Tip Line would be an excellent idea.
[...] Transcripts (!): I haven’t used this feature, but according to Steve at Blogger Lens, once someone leaves a voicemail, the Google Voice user will also be given a transcribed text [...]