Google to start VoIP phone service

So says Rediff and and some UK papers

[wanderingmind]

[in.rediff.com ]

US-based search engine Google plans to launch a free telephone service that would link users via a broadband Internet connection using a headset and a home computer.

Although the technology has been in the market for quite some time, no telecom firm has ever used it properly.

In a report, The Times said, BT, which connects seven out of ten British households, has developed its own Internet-telephone service. However, the telephone giant, which would be the biggest loser if Google succeeds in its venture, has so far been reluctant to promote the technology heavily.

[Brett_Tabke]

[vnunet.com...]

Google has refused to confirm or deny reports that it is planning to launch a voice over IP (VoIP) telephony service.

The rumours were fuelled when the company posted a job ad last week seeking a 'strategic negotiator' with experience in the "selection and negotiation of dark fibre contracts both in metropolitan areas and over long distances as part of the development of a global backbone network".

This is all pure speculation.

[ccity]

Haven't seen this posted yet:

Google Gears Up for a Free-Phone Challenge to BT
[timesonline.co.uk...]

[kpaul]

"...free telephone service that links users via a broadband internet connection using a headset and home computer."

[timesonline.co.uk...]

[BennyBlanco]

[timesonline.co.uk...]

Thought everyone may be interested. Sorry if this was already brought up.

[topgun]

[timesonline.co.uk...]

interesting!

[Prash_seo]

[timesonline.co.uk...]

[in.rediff.com...]

[netimperative.com...]

[Prash_seo]

Was reported in The Times UK & rediff India

Prash

[bloke in a box]

Apparently Google are planning to offer a free VoIP service in the UK.

An interesting move, but I can't see the Telecommunication companies over here being very happy about it, especially with the backing of a brand name like Google.

I'm just wondering how they intend to make any revenue from it.

[trillianjedi]

More hearsay from the Times (although the more you hear it, the more you start to believe it):-

[timesonline.co.uk...]

The company behind the US-based internet search engine looks set to launch a free telephone service that links users via a broadband internet connection using a headset and home computer.

Are Google still "cool", or are they heading towards a MS style invasion of our desktops?

TJ

[christopher w]

From The Times:

The company behind the US-based internet search engine looks set to launch a free telephone service that links users via a broadband internet connection using a headset and home computer.

Full Article Here [timesonline.co.uk]

[Brett_Tabke]

As you can see - it was posted a few times this morning.

Personally, I gotta see a whole lot more than one story to remotely think this is true yet.

[nutsandbolts]

Not interested until there is a video option available :)

[walkman]

ladies and gentlemen:
It's ONE story rehashed. The Times posted this with no source, just speculation and other sites picked it up. No matter how many sites pick that story up it doesn't change a thing.

Why would Google need the "Dark fiber" to offer VOIP? Aren't people already online, and their ISP is the one who worries about their connections? Why would Google want the headache? What am I missing?

[trillianjedi]

Personally, I gotta see a whole lot more than one story to remotely think this is true yet.

What internet technology based brand with experience of large bandwidth requirement and multi-cluster servers isn't going to go for a slice of a $1 trillion market which requires large server clusters and plenty of bandwidth? Oh, and lots of database lookups.

Not interested until there is a video option available

VoIP is just voice packets sent as data. Whether you want to do video or voice or files, it's all the same.

TJ

[Clark]

This makes perfect sense for Google, the company with a laser-focus on search.

[walkman]

"This makes perfect sense for Google, the company with a laser-focus on search. "

They are in talks to buy ShopRite supermarkets too. ;)

[limitup]

I can just see it now. You're talking to your buddy and halfway through the conversion they make you wait and listen to a VoiceSense ad targeted to your conversion LOL

[Clark]

Now that's an idea! VOIP, but you need to have your computer on. So you watch the ads while talking. Instead of paying per minute, to prove you're watching the screen you have to enter a word every x minutes right on the adsense iframe.

[monten]

Google Voice?
It makes sense. Why? Do you want to search for your voice data? What about transcripts? People want this kind of information and I suppose they will get it. It’s about the data, stupid!

Jeff Pulver says:
"A quick check at the Spring 2005 VON delegate database shows that a number of Google executives in fact will be joining us in San Jose in March. Maybe Google is 'just interested' in VoIP. I suspect there may be something more to this. :-)"
[pulverblog.pulver.com...]

[divedi.blogspot.com...]

[dmorison]

It kinda makes sense for Google in the same way that Gmail does:

Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful.

We know they're working on video indexing; and with that technology would be able to index the content of your voice conversations and allow you to search it in the future.

How would they monetize it? Easy - Google VoiceWords:

"Hi Bob, coming out tonight?"
"Yeah! What time shall we meet?"
"How about 8PM at Bar 38?"
BEEP: [American Accent] Half price on all drinks at Bar Med!
"Sounds good - i'll book at taxi!"
BEEP: [American Accent] A1 Cabs, let us take you into town and we'll take you home again, free! Aff.
"Still there?"
"Yeah, see you soon, just gonna grab a take-away first...
BEEP:.....

Can't see anyone having any privacy concerns with this, and it certainly wouldn't be annoying.

[Kubano]

I just had a genial though (or crazy?)

Some days ago i readed about a new kind of AdWords service (sorry I cant remember the name right now) which is gonna start using information of user activities, particulary information passing throw ISPs. This company will target advertising taking in consideration all users activities (not only websearches).

What if google is planning to offer "Internet2" high speed internet access for free? Of course VOIP and Video P2P... a new kind of free high speed internet access targeting contextual a behavioral advertisment, like gmail, but more?

Will be google the new free AOL? Will we need to login in Google to search the internet? Will we need to login in google to surf the internet?

What do you think?