I have been using Google Voice for the last two months. I don’t believe in reviewing a product until I have really tried it out, which took me longer with my Google Voice account since I don’t get a lot of phone calls.
But Wait! I do call out a lot, and for the calls I have had in, I was impressed.
First off, Google Voice is like having my own computer secretary. My phone rings, and it asks me (based on the name the caller provides on initial connection) “Call from Someone. Press 1 to accept this call, or press 4 to send to voicemail.”
I press 1, it connects without a problem. From here, I can press the number 4 to record the conversation.
If I press 4, however, it forwards them to my voicemail where I can listen in to their call. I can press a key to pick up the call if I decide that it’s important enough.
Voicemail can be listened to on the computer, or listened in to on your Gmail inbox if you install a special lab extension. The voicemail is automatically transcribed. The transcription isn’t all that accurate, but it gives you the general idea behind the message.
I especially enjoy SMS features. No longer do texts go to my phone, they are received by my Google Voice inbox, and forwarded to my email. I can reply to SMS in Google Voice as well, it’s absolutely wonderful. This is especially useful since I don’t have a texting plan, and I have a lot of friends who try to text me.
I currently have my Google Voice number set up to only ring my house phone from 2:30PM-8PM, and my cell phone the rest of the time. It works out very well.
Google Voice builds an automatic contact list for each call I get, based on the name of my callers.
The biggest feature that has really got me to use my Google Voice number the most is the ability to call long distance on my home phone line, for free. It takes a bit of time, and it is kind of round-about, but it’s worthwhile.
