Google Voice: What is it and how can I use it?

We’ve all been hearing a lot of news about Google Voice lately and those who haven’t been following every single development may be a bit confused about the service. What exactly does Google Voice do? Is it VoIP? A phone redirecting service? Voicemail? We’re hoping this short guide on Google Voice will enlighten you a little on the service and why you might want to use it when it becomes available to the general public.

Before Google acquired the service in 2007, Google Voice used to be GrandCentral, a service that essentially worked as a personal switchboard operator. It let users register a number that can be redirected to ring multiple phones, as well as collect messages, listen to voicemail, and tell a specific number that your phone number is no longer in service (perfect for those avoiding stalkers). When Google bought GrandCentral and relaunched it as Google Voice, they did more than just put a pretty logo on it; they’ve added a couple of useful features and made it into a must-have for early adapters who could use the service by invitation or as a former GrandCentral user. Let’s take a look at what Google Voice can do.

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Google Voice Speed Dial for the iPhone

Apple may have made a bad move rejecting the Google Voice application, but that doesn’t mean you can’t integrate Google Voice with the iPhone. The Google Voice Speed Dial Bookmarklet generator allows you use your Google Voice number to make calls. Just head over to http://www.ironicsans.com/gv/ and follow the instructions, then enter your Google Voice code, your iPhone number, and the number of the contact you’re calling.

Once you’ve entered all those numbers you’ll hit Generate, and the tool will give you more instructions to follow. In the end, you’ll end up with a quick-dial bookmark in your mobile Safari that you can use to speed-dial specific contacts, making it faster to call people than going to the mobile Google Voice site.

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Microsoft Office Communicator Mobile Lets You Talk to Colleagues on VoIP

Microsoft just released the 2007 version of their Office Communicator Mobile program and its interface looks a whole lot like Google Voice. This handy software allows fast and easy inter-office communication over VoIP, and even lets you receive calls from your office number even when you’re not at your desk. One of the development team’s goal for this update is to make it easier to join conference calls on the go. Instead of dialing a number, the new UC Conferencing capability lets you join a conference call just by clicking the Join Conference button. This automatically authenticates the participants and lets them join the conference call.

Users can also avoid roaming charges when they are outside their provider’s network. When you need to make a call, Office Communicator will not log you into a roaming network, but it will automatically log you back onto your provider’s network when you return. Simply select the option and the program will take care of the rest.

Finally, a new plug-in for Windows Mobile 6.5 will integrate Communicator with the home screen. Through the plug-in, you’ll be able to see the number of ongoing conversations and your presence status. The plug-in will also enable you to make a call through your work identity right from your phone dialar, allowing users to dial extension numbers to reach their colleages.

The Windows Mobile 6.5 plug-in won’t be available til the fall, but you can download the Microsoft Office Communicator Mobile from the Microsoft download site.

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Could Skype be in Danger?

The millions of users who depend on Skype as their alternate to a landline phone may have something to worry about. The creators of Skype and its new owner eBay are in a little bit of a tiff right now. eBay purchased Skype way back in 2005 but its creators Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis still retained some of the rights to the VoIP’s peer to peer technology. Now they want to pull the peer-to-peer software they own from Skype, which would pretty much render it useless. To prevent this, eBay filed a lawsuit against Niklas and Janus and is working on a new software that can run Skype without the original peer-to-peer client. But not only is eBay’s new software expensive; they also admit that it is unlikely to work. Of course, shutting down Skype is not even an option eBay would consider, but with the way things are looking it’s probably best to start finding alternatives to Skype.

Fortunately there are many other free VoIP providers that can provide the same voice chat and video chat features, like Oovoo, Google Voice, TeamSpeak, and Fring, to name a few. Still, I hope it doesn’t come to the death of Skype.

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Google Voice for iPhone Gets Rejected by Apple

In this morning’s drama, Google Voice apps just got rejected by Apple’s iPhone Store. The developer Sean Kovacs reports that the Google Voice mobile, along with Google’s official iPhone app, was turned down because it “duplicates features that already come with the iPhone.” People are currently speculating that AT&T is behind the rejection because it will mean less revenue for the carrier. The App Store is already full of alternative SMS apps and applications like Skype, which already has a phone dialer, making the duplication excuse a very flimsy one.

Anyway, it’s not like Google will be seriously scathed by this. They already own a competing platform, Andriod, not to mention that they’re pretty much a monopoly these days. According to Gigaom, this was Google’s official statement on Apple’s rejection of Google Voice.

We work hard to bring Google applications to a number of mobile platforms, including the iPhone. Apple did not approve the Google Voice application we submitted six weeks ago to the Apple App Store. We will continue to work to bring our services to iPhone users, for example by taking advantage of advances in mobile browsers.

Though the absence of Google apps from the iPhone will make the device less attractive to some Google Voice users, I hardly doubt it will make a significant amount of people drop this device for a different, Google-supporting one.

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Free Outgoing Calls with Google Voice and Gizmo5

Did you know that Gizmo5, the Skype-like VoIP service, provides convenient, straight-up dialing through your Google Voice number? If you have a Gizmo account, you can make US and international calls through your Google Voice number by going to your account settings and entering your Google Voice email address and password. Then you can log onto the desktop client or the mobile site using your 1+10-digit Gizmo 5 number and password. Making outgoing calls in this manner won’t use up any of your Gizmo credit – the outgoing call gets automatically routed through your Google Voice number.

Currently, Google Voice is still in its beta phase, meaning you can only use it upon invitation. Gizmo5, on the other hand, is free to sign up and use.

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Official Skype Headset Available Now!

It certainly took them a while, but Skype finally came out with their own official headset that you can use together with the VoIP application! The new Freetalk Everyman USB headset is a plug-and-play, super-wideband device that offers good quality Skype calls, thanks to its full-range stereo sound and unidirectional microphone that reduces background noise. It’s also super lightweight and foldable, making it easy to stash it in your laptop bag without worrying about a bulge. Perfect for those who don’t have a headset to use on their PCs, laptops, or Macbooks! Available at the Skype Shop for P 1,284.

Skype 2.8 Gold for Mac has Screen Sharing, Skype Access, and a Twitter-Like Feature

Who doesn’t love the convenience and affordability offered by Skype? It’s been a while since Skype added new features to Skype for Mac but they finally did with the release of Skype 2.8 Gold. Here’s what you can expect when you download Skype 2.8 for Mac.

Screen Sharing – The Skype 4.1 version for Windows got Screen sharing several weeks ago to make it easier to show presentations or other activity on your desktop. Anyone with a video-compatible version of Skype can enjoy screen sharing, and you can even do cross-platform collaborations with it.

Skype Access – Finding WiFi hotspots during your travels and fumbling with credit cards and punching in numbers can be quite a pain to do, particularly when you’re on the road. But with Skype Access, you can easily connect to over 100,000 WiFi hotspots worldwide using your Skype Credit to pay for the Internet use by the minute. At the moment, Skype Access in Skype 2.8 Gold is still in its beta version

Improved chat management – If you have simultaneous text conversations going on, improved chat management makes it easier to read the most important messages first and sort out your conversations.

Quick add – Adding people to chats is now much easier with the Quick Add window. All you have to do is click Add in a chat window toolbar then type in a contact’s name. Simply click on your contact’s username to add him or her to the chat.

Mood message chat – A Twitter-like feature that lets you post a short mood message and keep up with your friends’ status updates.

Hidden avatars in incoming contact requests – To avoid the small minority of users that don’t have the most palatable avatars, all avatars are now hidden by default when contact requests are made.

Add notes to contacts – Keeping track of who’s who is now a lot easier by adding notes to a contact in their profile window.

Download Skype 2.8 Gold for Mac here.

Download Skype 1.1 For Apple iPhone And iPod Touch

Skype in my iPhone has really been useful. I once called my daughter as I sat on a bench in Orchard Road in Singapore. There was a strong wifi signal that I picked up. You can’t use the Skype in Iphone if you are connected to a 3G network though. The calls are just as clear when I called using the wifi connection.

So what are the new features of Skype 1.1 for iPhone and iPod Touch?

1. Send low-cost text messages (SMS) to friends and family around the world using Skype credit

2. Allows users to listen to their Skype voicemail while on the move

3. Improved look and feel using the dial pad, while calling phones

4. Supports Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Swedish, Traditional Chinese and English languages

The latest updated Skype 1.1 for iPhone and iPod touch is now available for download through iTunes App Store on your device.

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Skype 4.1 Gold for Windows released

A new Skype Version is now available for Windows. Download Skype 4.1 now.

So what is new with Skype 4.1?

1. Screen sharing
2. Send contacts
3. Birthday reminders
4. Better call quality
5. Better video quality
6. Accessibility features

Another good news awaits Skype subscribers. As a promotional offer Skype is allowing all its existing users to make One month of free worldwide calls.. There is a fair usage policy though and you can read more about it Fair Usage Policy.

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