Google Voice

[Taxious]

Just got my beta invitation accepted - pretty cool so far! I'm excited for them to start pumping out apps for the G1.

If you are interested, you can join the beta here:
https://services.google.com/fb/forms/googlevoiceinvite/

[Ddrak]

It requires an existing phone number, right?

Dd

[Taxious]

It requires an existing phone number, right?

I'm not sure that it requires one, but I entered my personal cell phone number into my google voice account. It requires you to pick a new phone number for G.V. but I don't think you HAVE to link up anything to it.

[Klast Brell]

Google Voice lets you collate your phone numbers right?
I gave up my land line and only have one number. Does Goggle Voice do anything else?

[Taxious]

It does a bunch of shit, yeah. I haven't played around with it too much yet, but some of the features that sparked my interest were:

-Getting your voicemails sent to your phone as text messages
-Being able to listen to your voicemails as they are recorded (much like an old school answering machine)
-Free calling inside of the US (what Apple/AT&T are so pissed about)
-Great web interface to manage phones/calls/texts. You can also place texts/calls from the web interface
-Personalized voicemail messages depending on who calls "Sorry Mrs. Klast, I can't answer the phone right now..."

Here is the complete feature list from google:
http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html

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

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

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

[Fallakin Kuvari]

I don't think its Apple thats pissed about it... Pretty sure its AT&T forcing their hand.

[Taxious]

Well yeah, but I'm sure Apple isn't too happy about the iPhone getting all the blame for not allowing certain apps like that. Even though AT&T is at fault , Apple is getting a lot of shit for it too.

[Fallakin Kuvari]

Its only a matter of time until their agreement with AT&T lapses.

[Minute]

It's awesome, trust me, if you can get it. Btw... reading the transcriptions from voice to text is hysterical.

[xilly]

It's not hard to get. I applied and got the invite the next day.