Google Voice now open to the American public

Tired of waiting for the invite that'll never arrive? Not so eager to snap up an Android phone just to automatically get ushered into the party? Good news: Google Voice is now open to the US public at large (sorry, everyone else!), enabling everyone who wishes to get a single number to ring all of their phones, have voicemail that acts more like email and send / receive free calls and texts within the US. Currently, Google has over a million active Voice users, and we suspect that figure will skyrocket after today. If you've been ignoring this hoopla until the invite barrier was crushed, feel free to hop on past the break for a video demonstration of what's on offer. Then hit that source link to sign up. Happy calling... callers.

See more video at our hub!

[tauttvisz Posted Jun 22nd 2010 7:08PM]

It doesn't work in Lithuania :/

[Cy Starkman Posted Jun 22nd 2010 8:04PM]

Very few people reading engadget are going to accept this but....

Google got that modern history wrong and Google Voice isn't "new", actually Google is about 13 years late to the party (public release)

Telstra in Oz had a service called Telepath (also OneNumber). Launched in 1997 or maybe even earlier.

- one number ANY phone (not just yours)
- call from ANY phone (even public)
- voicemail
- call blocking
- move phone on time
- rapid dial
- no personal phone required
- take over any private phone
- you didn't pay "redirect", cause it wasn't
- call costs were based on "phone"

Worked even overseas, even on their public phones.

$5AUD a month, so like $2US today.

Google you reading this? Fix up your timeline, show some respect.

[Cy Starkman Posted Jun 22nd 2010 8:13PM]

@Cy Starkman

And in saying that I guess Telstra either made their own or got it from someone so it prolly even predates that.

(and troll boys I know GV has voip and email)

[delicatessen lama Posted Jun 22nd 2010 8:36PM]

Now someone other than the government will keep records of your phone conversations ;P It is definitely a handy service though, I might use it when it arrives in my country.

[S2333 Posted Jun 22nd 2010 9:26PM]

Now I just have to wait for it to come to Australia. Could be a while.

[Lindley Posted Jun 23rd 2010 2:35AM]

While I know texting is free and is sent by data...

What about calls? Is that sent over data too? If so, could I just get a Data ONLY plan from my carrier, download Google Voice and be able to call and text for super cheap???

[xnox Posted Jun 23rd 2010 7:44AM]

That's it, this was the last drop. Me is moving to US.

[jmhalder Posted Jun 23rd 2010 11:24AM]

@John Doe I signed up over the winter, got it about 2 or 3 weeks ago... oh well, had exclusivity for a while I guess.

[SirMaster Posted Jun 23rd 2010 12:45PM]

GVoice + Gizmo5 = Win!

Free calling/receiving to and from any mobile or land-line in the USA from my computer, laptop, or iPhone!

[brutek Posted Jun 25th 2010 5:38PM]

@SirMaster How? Please provide the use case scenarios!

[mm Posted Jun 24th 2010 11:54AM]

Dunkin' Donuts. Come on, let's go to Dunkin' Donuts!

[brutek Posted Jun 25th 2010 5:37PM]

Been using since it was Grand Central. A couple of issues:

1. Many calls have a large delay that impedes normal conversation flow.

2. Many other VoIP services cannot call Google Voice, nor can Google Voice call many VoIP services. This is very apparent if you are calling into a multiparty teleconference that uses VoIP, sometime the call will NOT go through.

3. Even if you use Google Voice number, unwanted calls & texts can still come in to your "other" device number, so the call/text blocking has limited value than you may encounter.

[mano0209 Posted Jun 30th 2010 4:24PM]

Google Voice Service Takes Aim At Telephone Companies: It converts voice mails to text, and even better…nice article
http://www.technologiez.net