Google Voice App For Android And BlackBerry: Lacks Skype’s MOJO
I am not a fan of Skype but have been using its services since last couple of years and was there and did that when Google launched its improved Gtalk application. As we all know Gtalk remained in the league of Yahoo messenger and MSN and did not even came close to Skype’s popularity.
Now Google is in the headlines again with its latest offering Google Voice with claims as high as it will change the way we manage our phone calls and can even act as person’s phone company. Lets us do some reality check as we have been fooled by all these blogs that every new smartphone is iPhone killer and every new smartphone app will change our habit and our way of life.
What is Google Voice?
Google Voice (formerly GrandCentral) is a free Google-owned Internet service that uses voice over internet protocol (VoIP) to link customers’ phone numbers together. When a Google Number is called, any or all of the user’s phones may be set to ring. Which phone(s) ring can be set based on the calling number, based on contact group (e.g. Family, Friends, Work, etc), and/or based on time of day (e.g. disabling a home phone during business hours and routing calls to mobile or business number). The service also features centralized voicemail and indexable, automated voicemail transcription.
Google has rolled out a mobile edition of Google Voice for Android and BlackBerry phones, where user can make outbound call from the handset itself and if he gets the call back then Google Voice will handle the call as per users settings.
The mobile app will provide all the Google Voice features like free SMS service on users handset that will appear to come from one’s Google number rather than one’s mobile number. If carriers like AT&T will allow this Google Voice feature then users can save $20 monthly bill for texting.
Meanwhile Google is hinting that it is working on Google Voice app for iPhone despite fears that Apple and AT&T may block its main features just as they did with Skype. The unofficial Google Voice app for iPhone is already there named as GV Mobile.
Despite all the attractive features Google Voice is missing the MOJO which Skype has inbuilt.
Please write your comments on whether you think Google Voice has that mysterious thing called MOJO.
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