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Does anyone think that this is a good thing?

Narcissistic?

Big deal. AccessLine has been doing this for over a decade.

Jul 15, 09 - 09:48 am Comment from: enzos

It certainly could be a good thing:- because of the vagaries of telephony in Fiji, I have five phone numbers on four different networks. iPhone is sort of here on Vodafone but ridiculously expensive to get and to support on current data plans.

Jul 15, 09 - 09:51 am Comment from: Anonymous©

I've been using it before it was bought by Google, and when it was called GrandCentral.

Jul 15, 09 - 10:04 am Comment from: Jonk

One ring to call them all.

I don't like the idea... more than one phone ringing at a time would be confusing - which phone should I answer? I'd have to check on both phones who it is first.

Also, I like the fact that I only give certain number to certain groups of people... I don't want work calls at home... don't want home calls at work!

I'm sure some will like it.. I'm just not one of them

Jul 15, 09 - 10:20 am Comment from: breeze

more noise

Jul 15, 09 - 10:40 am Comment from: HMCIV

@Jonk

I wasn't scared of this until just now.

didn't MCI try this in the 90's?

There is a reason why I don't give my cell number to some folks, or my home number to others (not that I use it much), or even my work number to some... It allows me to manage who is going to be able to get a hold of me and when...

Jul 15, 09 - 11:00 am Comment from: Scott Rose

This isn't Google's technology. Just like almost everything at Google, they bought this technology from another company (Grand Central) and will most likely let it languish, just like they did with Blogger and many of their other acquisitions.

"Also, I like the fact that I only give certain number to certain groups of people... I don't want work calls at home... don't want home calls at work!"

Over at the voice page at Google they have an overview video. You can set your contact list so that incoming calls from certain people ring only a specific phone or even none at all. In other words, you can make sure that calls from business contacts only ring on your business phone, while calls from your kids ring all your phones. And of course you can still simply give your specific business or home number to those you want to limit. The Google numbers is an extra number for those that you want to provide with greater access to you.

Jul 15, 09 - 11:27 am Comment from: MacTony

Apple should develop a search engine to compete with Google. Every new Google product that comes out is in competition with Apple. I bet Steve could develop one hell of a search engine.

Jul 15, 09 - 11:43 am Comment from: Babakool

Having just received my invite (after signing up months ago) I can say that the features are quite a bit more interesting than this article covers. While it mentions that international call rates are low, it fails to state that domestic calls are free! As in, no charge. And these aren't VOIP calls with a headset but over my landline with excellent quality. The transcribed voicemails can be quite funny but don't seem very useful. I made my number local to my aged mother so she doesn't have to dial long distance to call. While I'm not sure how one makes money giving away domestic calls (we're Google! we can afford it!) I'm happy to take advantage of the opportunity.

Jul 15, 09 - 11:48 am Comment from: alansky

Having all my phones ring at the same time sounds like a freaking nightmare!

1997 is calling...and wants its technology back. A few companies have been doing this for decades. AccessLine, in Seattle, for one.

Move along...nothing to see here.

Except in 1997 your voicemail didn't get transcribed into your email or electronic calendar, or pass through to your Facebook or follow you on Twitter. Google Voice is about bigger plans than just another "telephone" service. Apple: facial recognition; Google: voice recognition and comprehension... I'm not scared, but, slightly concerned.

Jul 15, 09 - 01:56 pm Comment from: NCIceman

Interesting. I have been using a product called V-Link/SimplyOne for several years now that offers this. It has the advantage of also being a voicemail service, so even if you get a call you don't want to take, you don't have to.

I don't expect BigPlanet to support this forever, so it will be nice to have a replacement option.

Google Voice has real privacy issues - user Phone.com's Virtual Number for more features at a great price and NO concerns that Google is data mining your calls.

One Number to call them all
One Number to find them
One Number to ring them all
And in Google Voice bind them

I've been using it since the GrandCentral days and I love it. I can change phones at will and never have to update everyone with emails etc. They just use the same number. The voice mail is cool, the transcriptions, aren't so accurate but they're okay. It has more features and so far, it's free. What's not to like about it?

It will never work in my area. What a pity.
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