Google Voice Now Comes With Your Existing Number

[engine]

Google Voice Now Comes With Your Existing Number [googlevoiceblog.blogspot.com]

now can get Google Voice with a Google number OR with your existing mobile phone number. If you choose to use Google Voice with your existing number, you won't get some features (like call screening and recording), but you'll still get many others

More specifically, if you sign up for Google Voice with your existing number, you'll get:

Online, searchable voicemail

Free automated voicemail transcription

Custom voicemail greetings for different callers

Email and SMS notifications

Low-priced international calling

If you decide to also get a new Google number, you'll get all of the above PLUS:

One number that reaches you on all your phones

SMS via email

Call screening

Listen In

Call recording

Conference calling

Call blocking

[Hugene]

Wow, if I was a telco company CEO I would be looking for a new job. Or maybe for a new bluishness line to go into.

What is unbelievable is the slow responsiveness of telcos: they should be the first to offer these services, not wait to get their customers switching en-masse before doing something.

[skipfactor]

Switched mine over today; send a text & no more carrier voicemail. And I don't have to deal w/ the hassle of 2 mailboxes and giving out a new Google Voice # to everyone. I think it's a hit. Having the ability (for free) to listen, read (voicemail transcription isn't exactly accurate yet but you get the general message w/o having to hear it), and organize voicemails from a browser saves some serious time.

Observations:
-No more "this mailbox is full" after 10 or so measely neglected voicemails.

-If you choose to dump your voicemail to GV, choosing to receive an SMS when one comes in almost totally mimics the typical mobile voicemail notification process (except, on the iPhone at least, the GV SMS notification gives you a preview of the voice-to-text, nice).

-In most situations, I'll be jumping on my mobile browser to read/hear/organize the new voicemail.

[Compworld]

Hmm, I like the idea, but here are some questions that popped up in my mind:

1) Privacy.
2) Hack attempts in voicemail/SMS
3) Cannot dial in to check voicemail, have to visit a site. What happens if you do not have a web enabled phone? What about the data fees for checking your voicemail via mobile web?

[skipfactor]

Once you switch your carrier voicemail over, you dial your GV number from the mobile phone you activated, and it takes you directly into traditional voicemail (no login).

[moltar]

Wake me up when it gets to Canada :)

[skyleft]

you can use a proxy

[donok]

Remember, Telcos are still treating call-waiting as a "feature" - when they crash and burn I hope we don't come running to their aid like we did GM.

[quickitguy]

All my contacts from phone are now "backed-up" and editable online,
I do not answer the phone as much and just view the transcription to see what they needed, not perfect but gives a rough draft, calls are recorded and reviewable, all messages are treated like files.